Message From the House

*These are my notes, and thus my interpretation of the message that was delivered. Do not take anything as direct quotage.

April 3, 2005
Follow the Leader - Bishop T.D. Jakes

Heb 13:7

There's always 2 questions we have when we get into a car: Where are we going? Are we there yet?

• You could be there and not even know it: our expectations are not realistic so when we get there, we don't feel like we're there
• Mentoring is important: Someone who has been there can help you know when you've made it. They know what it's like
• Sometimes in the thick of it, you don't realize it, can't see it for what it is

Love is about submission (Bishop was asked to do a wedding, omitting the "obey" clause)

• Heb 13:17 God says obey and submit yourselves
• You can't cut out the parts of the Bible that you don't like

Someone has to lead and someone has to follow

• We need someone to stand up and make an intelligent decision
• Many think leaders are [divinely] superior, but that's not true. Pastor's come from the pews, and the pews come from the streets.

Leadership is not to say one person is better than another

• It's about God establishing order
• Ultimately, discipline causes children to feel loved.

By following their faith, you are following their passion.

• When God gets ready to stir your faith, he puts passion in 'Moses' to lead you
• Just because something is good doesn't mean that it is what God has purposed for you
• The reason you're tired and weary is because you are toiling at something that is not purposed for you

Faith is about focus - focus on the divine thing that is purposed for you

• More people in the church does not mean more power. These days, people come to church to advance their agendas
• You don't pick a church for you to utilize your gifts. You need a church that feeds you - not one that you feed.
• You don't go to a church that needs you.
• The basic law of reciprocity will allow your gifts to be used: Feed what feeds you.
• Woe unto the fool that does not feed the thing that feeds him.
• Life is too short for you to stay in place where you are not being fed.

Ex 28:25-30 God's design of the priests garments

• Meticulous description of how the priest was robed... is God a tailor?
• No, it means that everything has a reason, purpose, and symbol
• Urim and Thummim: 2 smooth rocks worn on the breastplate: Like a compass, these stones were used by Aaron to get direction from God when the Israelites reached a crossroads.
• Urim and Thummim (Old Testament) = Faith (New Testament)

You cannot muster faith for things that are not yours

• Faith comes from hearing what the spirit says is purposed for you

When a leader has a Urim and Thummim experience, you are supposed to get in line without bickering and questioning. Follow the faith of God.

• Get ready to shift
• Sometimes it takes someone from the outside to lead, because they aren't shaded by old expectations

Line up with the vision

• God will strengthen your hands when he knows that he can use them in the kingdom

2 Kings 2:9-11 How can we follow you when the vision is going in so many directions?

• An octapus has 8 tentacles going in 8 directions- find the one that you can support and get in line
• You cannot contain an octapus to one leg if God has anointed him to more

Look at the total vision: get in the spot and occupy

• "What are you holding down?"
• The enemy is dividing you because you've never committed your resources to the house
• I'm ready for a suddenly. I'm getting too old for a gradually.

Culturally, African-Americans are light years behind where we should be by now, because we have no unity behind a vision

• And it ain't because of racism

Some people are still waitin on your ship to come in - you need to step when God says to step. Stop waiting for something to happen.

• Faith = the evidence of something unseen

Why did Jesus call Peter a devil when he tried to stop the soldiers fro taking Jesus to be crucified?

• He was trying to interfere with his purpose.
• You cannot get to heaven unless I go... this profits you.
• Whoever tries to stop your next turn in your enemy.
• Untie the hands of the man of God.
• "People don't write about the natural. They write about the super natural." And when they do, you need to tell them it's God.

2 Kings 2. Vs 10. - Nevertheless, if you see me taken up...

• double portion came when he saw his mentor go up
• "This is a double portion year!"

Paul says: It is no longer I that liveth (my agendas are gone)

People have to look in retrospect at leaders to see their greatness, because in the thrux of things, they seem weird.

• Follow their faith because the faith they have didn't come from them

When you don't have the fly against the wind, you can go faster. Get behind and push.

• You can't be jealous of a person that you're pushing.