Keion Henderson - The Long Way Around - Part 2

Last week on the long way around: But what if I told you that God’s prescription for your life in this season is that you take the long way? What if I told you that there are no shortcuts in this season? Anytime God is getting ready to use you in an extraordinary way, somebody from history brings up a moment to preclude you from destiny. This is what is happening in the life of our actor today; it’s a symbolism that Joshua is getting ready to go somewhere, and God has tasked Joshua with finishing what Moses started. I want to say this to you, and I hope you’re writing it down: His name was Oshia when his mother named him; his name was Joshua when Moses named him after they defeated the Amalekites. Why? Because you are not defined by where you were born; you are defined by what you defeat. Joshua is the firstborn son of Nun, and now there is a plague that is coming for the firstborn. Jay, let me tell you something right now that you may not have known: The reason why there are so many attacks coming upon your life is because—watch this—this attack that is coming right now has been designed for your position. This attack was designed for the firstborn. Why would the devil want to attack the firstborn? Because the firstborn of Nun is going to be the one that God uses to lead the children of Israel into the promised land. So whenever the enemy knows what the future holds, he designs an attack for your position, and if he designs an attack for your position, then it will keep you from getting to your destiny. That’s why it hurts so badly, because it was designed for you. I’m getting ready to tell you something that’s going to shock you; I hope you receive it: Affliction is a better friend than appreciation. Most of us have a need to be appreciated by people; most of us need applause to know that we are doing a good job. But one of the ways to know that God is on your side is not through appreciation; one of the ways to know that God is on your side is through affliction. David said it was good that I was afflicted, that I might learn the statutes of God. The applause for Joseph got him thrown into a pit, but it was the affliction of the pit that got him placed in the palace. It was the applause for Joseph—his father giving him a coat—that made his brothers unable to stand him, and it was through that that we now find him in the pit. Remember, it was the applause of the women who said to David in a song, «David has killed his tens of thousands,» and it was the applause of the women that got him in trouble with Saul. But it was the affliction of Goliath that got him to the palace. I’m telling you right now that affliction is better than appreciation. COVID-19 has ravaged the world, and here in America, we’ve experienced social unrest and social injustice—that’s the affliction. But because of that affliction, over 160 million people voted in this year’s election. Why? Because affliction sometimes is better than appreciation. Help me, Holy Ghost. Just recently in America, Alabama still had the Confederate flag flying at the state capitol, and now, here in 2020, it is no longer there. Why? Because of protests. Why? Because affliction is sometimes better than appreciation. The Lord delivered him through his affliction; he was a slave, but God raised him up. Why? Because affliction is better than appreciation. Joshua rose from slavery to success, and let me tell you something: If you are going to rise to the amount of anointing that God has for your life, you are going to have to defeat it. I don’t know who that word is for; you’re going to have to defeat it. Who am I talking to? You’re going to have to defeat it. I know it’s a family curse, but you’re going to have to defeat it. I know it’s poverty, but you’re going to have to defeat it. I know it comes from a DNA structure, but you’re going to have to defeat it. Everybody at home, say «defeat it.» Everybody watching this online, say «defeated.» Everybody sitting in church, say «defeated.» Everybody in Ghana, say «defeated.» Everybody in Nigeria, say «defeated.» Everybody in America, shout «defeat it.» Some things that you’ve been tolerating, you’re going to have to learn to defeat. You’re going to have to learn to defeat it. Not only are you going to have to learn to defeat it, you’re going to have to learn to defend it. The first time we see Joshua in the Bible is as a soldier. Israel was at war with the Amalekites at Mount Sinai, and it was at this battle that Moses appointed Joshua as a general, giving him the highest-ranking position in the entire army. Now, in America, a five-star general is the top rank, so right now, Joshua is a five-star general. Now, it’s worth noting that before he was appointed as a general, he was simply the minister of Moses. All he was was a little preacher, a little armor-bearer following him around; that’s all he was. All he did was go around and say, «Yes, sir, Mr. Moses.» It was kind of like what just happened here: I’m sitting up here sweating, and I got a lot of people in the room, but one man saw I was sweating, so he went and got a towel. That’s all he would do.