WOGM Staff

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Psalms 90:12

• Successful people know how to adapt to the seasons they are in.
• II Timothy 4.
• Psalms 90:10.
• I can’t be wise about my season if I don’t recognize the season I’m in.
• You can only prepare for your next steps by recognizing the season you’re in.
• Where am I in life right now?

“Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:”

Job 7:1-2

• Maturity comes with age and new seasons.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

• Too many are operating outside the season of our life they are in.
• It all begins with recognition. Luke 19:41-42 – “had you known.”
• Galatians 4:4.
• What you don’t recognize cannot benefit you.
• If God has given you a purpose, there is a time stamp on your purpose.
• God can use things in our life to keep us where He wants us.
• If there is a purpose for it, there is a time for it.
• A part of maturity is about adapting to the season we are in.

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11

• God makes everything beautiful in His time.
• We’re bad at looking at time and allowing it to disqualify God.
• God is not governed by time, He governs it.
• We make decisions based on the windows we see, but God sees the whole picture.
• Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary situations.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

Psalms 1:1-6

• He will prosper because he is planted in the Word.
• Seasons don’t change the amount of time we should be in the Word.
• Wind makes your roots go deeper.
• In every season, God is doing something.
• Philippians 4:12.
• Many people only know how to be instructed during the “mountain top” days.
• God is faithful in every season
• He is God in all seasons of life (good and bad). He is faithful in every season.

“And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.”

Ezekiel 34:26

• Jeremiah 29:11 – the chapter is under Babylonian rule.
• Keep living, trust God, and keep advancing the Kingdom.
• Showers of blessings come in His season.

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

Genesis‬ ‭8:22‬ ‭

• There is so much we can learn about life if we just understand seasons.
• Natural seasons have a parallel to our lives.
• Man was pulled from the dust of the earth.

Two main points:
1. Recognize the season you’re in.
2. Understand the season you’re in.

• There is more to the process of sowing and reaping than just the growing and planting season.
• The seed determines its increase by the soil it’s going into.
• There will be times when we are lying dormant, but God is preparing the Harvest.
• God does not alienate Himself from any season of life.
• God is real in every season!
• The dormant season is as much a chapter in your book as any part of life.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭

• Sometimes the “no” may be just for this season.
• If that “thing” has a purpose in your life, then there is a time for it.
• You cannot separate something’s season from its purpose.
• Success is based on my ability to adapt to the season I am in. Successful people know how to adapt.
• The season will come and the season will go.
• Don’t be the person who runs from every hard season.
• Every season is vital and important and God is in the midst of it all.

“A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:2-8‬ ‭

• I cannot inject my season on you.
• To every thing there is a season. We all have different seasons and we must respect them.
• We must learn how to recognize what season we are in. You can’t be rewarded from a thing you don’t recognize.
• What I don’t recognize can’t help me.
• You don’t celebrate seasons you don’t recognize.

“Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.”

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭8:5‬ ‭

• God in His Word called His people to celebrate seasons.
• Judgement = Recognition.
• There are consequences (positive AND negative) for all seasons.
• A wise man recognizes time, the season that he is in, and respects the season of other people.
• A wise man recognizes the seasons and knows how to respond to them.

Until we learn how to live by the Word, we will not walk in its benefits.

“When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.”

‭Psalms‬ ‭42:4‬ ‭

• “Holyday” = Holiday.
• Seven different feasts were celebrated (representing a time and season).
• I can’t keep “holyday” if I don’t recognize them.
• I must be able to see the season I am in.
• You can’t jump out of your season just because you saw someone in another one.
• It’s important to surround yourself with wise people that are walking the same season of life as we are in.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Psalms‬ ‭90:12‬ ‭

• Ecclesiastes 8:5.
• A wise man not only recognizes his season, but is okay with it.
• When you know where you, you can live with what God has given you.
• If we are not careful, other people will try to get us out of our season.
• We number our days (know our season) to apply wisdom.
• We can’t apply wisdom to a season we don’t recognize.

“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

Psalms‬ ‭90:10‬ ‭

• Since you aren’t going to live forever, you might as well LIVE while you’re living.
• How do I apply wisdom to where I am in life right now?

“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”

Matthew‬ ‭16:21-28‬ ‭

• Peter did not recognize Jesus’ season.
• Peter was trying to get Jesus to go a way that God did not have planned.
• We must be steadfast in our season so people can’t get us out of it.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 14:1-6 

• Work and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”

John 14:16-20 

• You can’t separate the Holy Spirit from truth.
• I John 5:7.
• When Jesus walked the earth, the spirit was among them. When He left earth, the spirit was in them.

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.”

John 14:26-31 

• The Holy Spirit will remind us of the Word.
• There’s oneness in the Holy Spirit and Jesus.

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”

John 15:26-27 

• Oneness between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit can’t tell you something that the Word doesn’t say.
• We will bear witness also, because of our relationship with Jesus.
• When we know Him we will know the Holy Spirit.
• I John 4:1.
• Discernment is the knowledge of the Word. 

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

John 16:7 

• When the Holy Spirit arrived, it began a new dispensation.
• Rev. 4:1.
• The Holy Spirit still has an assignment in the earth.

“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.”

John 16:8-16 

• The Holy Spirit will not allow me to get away with sin. When I sin, there’s CONVICTION.
• The Holy Spirit will speak to those that have an ear to hear.
• There are things that only the Holy Spirit can reveal to people, they cannot be learned.
• The Holy Spirit is a prophetic voice.
• The Holy Spirit will never turn the light off of Jesus to put it on you and me. 
• Self-promotion stinks in the nostrils of God.
• The Holy Spirit came to direct people toward the Son.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

1 John 4:1-3 

• Is the message Jesus centric?

Psalms 2

1-3 = The World

4-6 = Father God speaking

7-9 = The Son speaking

10-12 = Holy Spirit speaking

The World

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 

Father God speaking

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 

The Son speaking

I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 

Holy Spirit speaking

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

Psalms 2:1-12 

• The world does not want the Word to be in authority. 
• The Holy Spirit will always point the world to the Son.

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

John 1:14-18 

• Even though water can take on different forms, it’s still water. 
• I John 5:7. 
• God is a God that stands out of time. He sees the end from the beginning. 
• God operates in dispensations. 
• Dispensation = A time period (a season…a definite start and end). 
• If the Church does not become what the church was called to be, we will not be effective for the Kingdom. 
• A dispensation of time started with Moses (Law). 
• Grace and Truth dispensation started with Jesus. 
  

“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”

Romans 5:14 

• When you recognize the time frames in scripture, you can  begin to see how all three work. 
• Adam to Moses (dispensation); Moses to Jesus (dispensation). 

Where are we now?

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”

Ephesians 1:10-11 

• God knew ahead of time where He was going. 
• God always knew how He would save us…there was never second guessing.

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;”

Ephesians 3:1-5 

“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

Luke 4:14-21 

• “And He closed the book…the acceptable year” (dispensation). 
• God’s Grace and favor would profusely abound. 

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;”

Isaiah 61:1-2 

• He closed the book before the day of vengeance in Luke 4.
• He closed the book before that statement because it wasn’t time for vengeance yet (this specific dispensation did not include vengeance).
• He first came for Grace and Mercy. 
• We are in a dispensation of Grace, and Grace is available during this time period.
• We are in a day of favor!
• Our relationship with God is based on Grace, and no man has the ability to disconnect you from Him.

Israel is the center of all prophesy.

You can view the world differently when you see how the Author and Finisher wrote the book. 

“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”

Acts 1:1-9 

• Matt 6:33.
• Matt 6:10.
• God told them to wait for the Holy Spirit. The sending of the Holy Spirit would begin a new dispensation.
• Pentecost has a definite start and a definite end (Rev. 4).
• Redemption was the disciples hope and Pilates concern. 
• Jeremiah 29:11.
• Just as they kept living even though the Babylonians were in power, we must keep doing life. 
• Only God can separate the righteous from unrighteous.
• Romans 12:2.
• We must be in the Word and be United under the Word.
• “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons.”
• Our role is to advance to Jesus. Our agenda is a Kingdom agenda.  
• The Father is in complete control of every dispensation. 
• The problem with our world today is a spiritual problem. 
• If we get off course, we are a moot point in this earth. 

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

2 Peter 1:16-21 

Jesus in the beginning was the Word!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

John 1:1, 14 

• His glory was tabernacled among us. 
• The Glory of God is the manifestation of God in your life.
• Genesis 1:26. 
• Psalms 8 – crowned man with His glory. 
• God man made in His own image. 
• Romans 3:23 – fell short of the glory of God through sin (Before Jesus). 
• Many know what they have “been from,” but many don’t understand what they have been saved TO.
• Colossians 1:27 – Hope of Glory (After Jesus). 
• I Corinthians 15.
• If you want to know who Jesus is you look into His Word. 
  

“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.”

John 2:4-8 

“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”

John 2:11 

• Prior to the working of the miracle, Jesus looked common.
• After the miracle He manifested His glory. 
• He was able to represent in earth the Power of God manifested in Heaven. 
• Jesus brought the Father glory because He was the walking manifestation of the Father on earth. 
  

“And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.”

Exodus 33:12-16 

• We only have the hope of glory in His presence with us.  
• Jesus didn’t come to establish a religion; He came to establish a relationship.
• You can’t get your presentation right before God without the blood shed by Jesus. 
• When the relationship had been broken, God went looking for Adam, desiring the relationship. 

“And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.”

Exodus 33:17-23

• Moses recognized his view was limited. 
• Moses wanted to see God. Even though he couldn’t see the face of God, He saw the evidence of where God has been.
• Romans 2:4.

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”

Matthew 16:27-28

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.”

Matthew 17:1-4 

• II Peter 1:17.
• Transfigured – overwhelmed on what was on the outside by what was on the inside. 
• Jesus is God with us. 
• The glory is able to tabernacle among man through Jesus. 
• Peter, James and John saw Jesus in a way that the other 9 didn’t get to see Him. 
• Tabernacles are designed to house glory.  

“While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.”

Matthew 17:5-6 

• All submit to Jesus. 
• The cloud arrived as He spoke. 
• John 1:1, 14. 

“And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.”

Matthew 17:7-8 

It is something about our words that reveal who we really are. 

“Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;”

2 Peter 1:13 

“For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

2 Peter 1:17 

• Hebrews 1:1. 

My purpose in life is to reflect His glory!

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

1 Timothy 3:16 

• John 1:14.
• Analogy of Water (Water that you drink, Steam boiled, Ice when frozen) – one water in three forms. 
• The same is true with God. He’s One God in three persons.

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”

Isaiah 46:9-10 

• This Scripture says that He declares revelation from Genesis. God declares everything He’s going to do in the beginning. 
• He tells you what is going to be before it happens. He speaks what WILL be. 

“Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.”

Isaiah 41:21-23 

• “Show us what’s going to happen.” 
• God stands outside of time. 
• Ecclesiastes 1:9. 

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And 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. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

Genesis 1:1-3 

• What separates God in His deity is He does nothing on the cuff. 
• Integrity to the Word that God established it all from the beginning. 
• The first creation was time. 
• His deity was established from the beginning: Vs. 1 – God, Vs. 2 – Spirit, Vs 3 – “And God Said” = Word of God. 
• The Spirit moves on His Word. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

John 1:1-5 

• The Beginning was The Word!
• “Him” – points to The Word (pronoun).
• You cannot separate God from His Word. 

Genesis 1 – And God Said!

• Without the Word was not anything made that was made. 
• His Word was His creative power. 
• Everything He created, He created with His Word. 

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

Genesis 1:31 

• He saw everything He said!
• He was what He says. 

Trinity – Tri Unity = One God in Three Persons. 

Scripture examples: Isaiah 45:18, Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:29, James 2:19. 

Creation/Fall/Redemption

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14 

• 4,000 years after being foretold, Jesus steps in the scene. 
• There was no other son. 

The Number 3 signifies something that is escalating…something that is coming to pass. 

The trinity is not some diluted version of God. 

Jesus is the manifested Word of God. 

God had already planned to send His son from the very beginning. 

• Psalms 8 – Why is God mindful of man?
• II Corinthians 5:17. 

“And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

Luke 16:1-10 

• We are the stewards managing the resources God has given us.
• Everything you have in your life is not really yours; it belongs to Him. 
• God is the source of everything in our lives. 

“And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.”

Matthew 21:1-3 

• The Lord has the power to loose any Colt He desires.
• Man may manage it but God owns it. 
• There is no true owner outside of God, He owns everything.
• There is a freedom that comes when you stop owning stuff. 
• Once we show God that we see Him as the source with gratitude…we have freedom.
• God desires for us to have a stewardship mindset.

“And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.”

Luke 16:1 

• If we were better managers of our time, we would not be wasteful.
• Be efficient – people who are efficient aren’t wasteful.
• Be effective – producing a result that is wanted. 

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

Luke 16:10 

• Stewardship is about what I have, not about what I don’t have. Biblical Stewardship is stewarding what you have.
• I cannot manage what is not in my life. 
• We need to be a conduit for God to use our lives for whatever He desires. 
• He is the source, we are the conduit. 
• You cannot walk in the much until you’re faithful in the little. 

“He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.”

Luke 19:12-15 

• What have you done with what God has given you?
• A heart truly surrendered to God stewards what they have been given. 

“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.”

Matthew 25:14 

• God does not give us what we ask for, He gives us what we can manage.  

“And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”

Matthew 25:25-29 

• What am I doing with what God has already put in my life?
• Gratitude conveys the message that God is the source of your life. 
• Grateful and Generous people have the conviction that He is the owner. 

“Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.”

Matthew 25:45 

• Gratitude teaches you how to receive. 

“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”

2 Corinthians 8:12 

• I can’t be grateful for what I haven’t received. 

Three things to manage better:

1. Time
2. Talents
3. Treasures

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Revelation 3:20 

• There is a connection between the grateful and generous.
• Until we learn to receive right, we can’t give right.
• Jesus is at the door of our lives. He’s knocking at the door because He’s seeking to be in our presence. 
• Genesis 3 – when they had heard the voice of the Lord walking in the garden, “Adam where art thou?”
• Fellowship is both giving and receiving. 
• In the first book of the Bible, God is seeking to be in fellowship.
• In the last book of the Bible, God is seeking to be in fellowship.
• Jesus came to give us relationship (must have an exchange). 
• Relationship over religion. Religion is us trying to work out the relationship rather than giving it all over to God.
• Every relationship needs to have these two components: Gratitude and Generosity. 

The table should both remind us to be grateful and generous. 

• Deuteronomy 8:3.

“Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.”

Proverbs 9:1-2 

• I can’t say I am operating in wisdom without being at the table.
• The table is my reminder to be grateful and generous. 

“And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.”

Exodus 25:22-23

• This verse is referring to the Tabernacle.
• God wants to have fellowship with us. There is a difference between Him communing with you and being in your life. 
• We must make time for the table. 

“And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about. And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table. And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them. And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them. And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway. And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.”

Exodus 25:24-31 

• God wants to commune with us.
• We can name the “what” when we gather around the table.
• Share at the table (bread is more than just food).
• The table is more than food; it’s fellowship and communion.
• The table is a place where we receive and give.

The Prodigal Son:

“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

Luke 15:17 

• He came to himself because he had no table.

“And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:”

Luke 15:23 

• The son was restored at the table. 
• God places the solitude in families. 

“And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.”

Matthew 15:22-26 

• The table is reserved for the covenant.
• Getting back to the table helps remind us of what we have to be grateful for. 

“Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”

Luke 3:7-11 

• If you have repented, you should be generous. 
• John wouldn’t baptize them until evidence was demonstrated in their life. 
• Re = to turn. 
• Pent = the highest, utmost (u-turn). 
• Repentance must demonstrate a changed life. 
• Generosity is evidence of repentance.  

Could someone see through your generosity that you’re a Christ follower?

Galatians 6:2, 10 – when we give, we fulfill the law of Christ!

We look most like Christ when we are generous. 

“So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers].”

Galatians 6:10 AMPC

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

Matthew 25:31-41 

• The first thing used to describe the believer was generosity. 
• A lack of generosity is hypocritical living. 
• Generosity is seen in both ends of the Bible.
• “Least of these” – in the society they are the most insignificant.
• When you are generous to the least, there is not an ulterior motive.
• Which group do I want to be in line with? (Sheep or Goats)
• Our generosity is heavy with God.

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2 

• You look most like Christ when you are helping another bear their burdens.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Galatians 6:7 

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Galatians 6:9-10 

• As we have opportunities, we bear each other burdens.
• You can’t offer what you don’t have, and you can’t give out of what you haven’t received.
• God can’t get anything TO you that He can’t get THROUGH you. 
• We are blessed to be a blessing to others!

It’s one thing to know what to do, it’s another thing to know why you do it. 

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Genesis 12:1-3 

• We are part of this everlasting covenant.
• Don’t just tell me you’re a child of Abraham, show me. 

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Galatians 3:13-14 

“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:29 

• We belong to Jesus and are an heir to Abraham and part of his covenant. 
• It’s a ‘blessed to be a blessing’ covenant. All the more reason why we are to be a blessing!

What is the Blessing?

• “Things” are not a blessing. The blessing is spiritual. 
• Ephesians 1:3.
• You can’t see or feel the blessing. 
• You may end up with a “thing,” but the favor is the blessing.
• The blessing is in operation when I chose to be a blessing.

“The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”

Proverbs 10:22 

• Genesis 14.
• What seems impossible before becomes a lifestyle when you live under “The Blessing.”
• It’s the power of the blessing of God that is making things happen.

“I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.”

Psalms 116:17-19 

• Psalms 100:4 – we enter His gates with thanksgiving. 
• Psalms 29:2 – worship Him in the beauty of His presence.
• Thanksgiving → Praise → Worship.
• The manifest presence of God is when His presence is made known.
• The presence of God manifested is called glory. It’s why the angles cries out…Glory to God in the highest. 
• Thanksgiving is a sacrifice. It costs you something. 
• II Samuel 24:24.
• If it doesn’t move you, how can it move God?
• It’s not a sacrifice until it’s costly. 
• If we’re not offering gratitude, we will never offer gifts.
• Sometimes people will be attached to you only to get something. 
• Don’t sow into the ground of the ungrateful. 

You can turn your not enough into more than enough by being grateful. It’s the heart of gratitude that matters. 

“When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”

John 6:5 

“There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.”

John 6:9-12 

• Any time God tells you to change your position, be ready to receive something. 
• You’ve got to get in the right position to release. 
• Jesus gives thanks over what they had! He took their not enough and gave God thanks.
• Be thankful over what you know is not enough.
• People of faith don’t wait to give thanks. 

“The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks)”

John 6:22-23 

• The people came back for the wrong thing. 
• They would not have eaten had Jesus not given thanks.
• The food multiplied after the Lord gave thanks.
• Thank God for everything in your life! There is power to being grateful. 
• The miracle was noted by giving thanks. 
• Psalms 26:7.

God will enrich and bless the grateful!

Grateful people are generous people. 

“Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.”

Psalms 73:12, 16-17 

• Comparison is a dangerous thing. 
• There comes a time when we have to withdraw from what is going around us. 
• We have to focus on The Word and not the world. Comparison or entitlement can set in when we focus on the world. 
• Don’t let the enemy get you caught up in a comparison trap; it will steal your grateful heart. 

We weren’t meant to manage the weight of the world. 

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

1 Timothy 6:6-10

• The comparison trap shuts you off from the blessings of God.
• Entitlement is dangerous. 

“Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

Proverbs 30:8-9 

• Godliness + Contentment = Great Gain. 
• We can have things as long as things don’t have us. 
• Tithe isn’t about getting, it’s about honoring God.