John K. Jenkins Sr - A Season of Transitions, Relationships - Part 2

On December 31st, we announced that our focus during this time would be a season of transition. We discussed that this is going to be a period in which God will move you from one place in your life to a different dimension, transitioning from one way of living to another. It 's a season and a time of change. How many of you received that word for yourself today? All right, that’s what this season is about. I don’t know how long it’s going to be; I don’t know how long it will take. However, my assignment for the next several weeks is to talk to you about the other things God wants you to do. One part we mentioned on December 31st was to prepare. Somebody say, " prepare.» You’ve got to be prepared. In fact, Joshua 1: 10 says, «Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 'Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, „Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God has given you to possess."'» So we talked about that on December 31st: prepare, get ready, take the classes, and get into an environment to prepare for what God has for your future. You need to determine and seek God to understand what that means for you.

One thing I am sure of is that God, and I think I told you about this, spoke to me to tell the church that we need to be prepared. The favor that’s on this house is about to enter into your lives, so you need to prepare. This might mean you have to clean up some things in your home; it might mean you need to straighten up some stuff; it might mean you have to close down the bar in your house. Oh, y’all didn’t say «Amen» on that one; I felt resistance. I sensed some tension. Or you 're going to do it after the Cowboys game; you might need it after the Cowboys game! Prepare- whatever that means to you.

Let me rehash this for the benefit of those who didn’t make it on December 31st or last Sunday. I’m just telling you today: prepare. Look in your home; examine your entire personal environment to understand what preparation means to you. It might mean you need to get engaged in a certain industry; it might mean you need to be saved; it might mean you need to rededicate yourself to God or recommit to the Lord. We discussed that on the 31st. The next day, January 1st, we talked about relationships. I went to chapter 2 and discussed an unlikely source that God used for the children of Israel to conquer Jericho. They had an unlikely person with an unlikely job. I’m trying not to say-hope I’m being clear- some people told me I went to the streets when I referred to her as a «lady of the evening» or a «hoochie mama,» but yet she played a key role. Our point from last week was to be careful how you treat people; God might want to use someone as a channel for your deliverance, victory, healing, and breakthrough -a person you least expect. Someone you might be treating poorly could end up being the one to hire you for your next dream job. Go ahead and preach, Pastor Jenkins! I’m doing the best I can.

If I had to put a label on today, it would probably be «Relationships Part Two.» Let me pick up at verse 12, chapter 1: «And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph, Joshua spoke, saying, 'Remember the word which Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you, saying, 'The Lord your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land. Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan.'»

Stop- stick a pin right there. Let me paint the picture for you: the children of Israel have been delivered and brought out of bondage. They have wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, and now their leader has died. God raises up a new leader named Joshua. Moses dies, and Joshua comes on the scene. Now Joshua has the assignment and the job of leading them to the promised land. They are no longer wandering around in the wilderness; they are now actually headed to the promised land. They begin to take over territory and enter the promised land, defeating kings. In the course of Joshua’s life, he leads 31 battles and wins 30 of them- his record is 30 and 1. Somebody say, «30 and 1.» That’s 30 victories and one loss; that’s a good record in any context.