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Chosen City Church Sermons
Your Decision Matters And It Comes With Power | Proverbs 16:1-3 | Minister Keith Anderson
Unlock the transformative power of faith-driven decision-making and reshape the trajectory of your life. Discover how each choice we make, guided by spiritual principles like sowing and reaping, has the potential to align us with our divine purpose. Imagine yourself in a cozy coffee shop, reflecting on life's daily pressures and learning how intentional decisions rooted in faith can steer your path toward fulfillment and purpose.
Meet an inspiring figure from scripture as we recount the story of the Canaanite woman's unwavering faith in Jesus. Despite cultural barriers and initial silence, her persistence reveals the strength found in faith combined with action. Explore how her story transcends time, providing a powerful illustration of how conviction and perseverance can lead to miraculous results and divine favor. Whether facing societal discouragement or personal doubt, her example challenges us to elevate our faith through action and worship.
Finally, embrace the notion that passionate perseverance often leads to unexpected blessings. Reflect on stories like Jacob's wrestling with God and Ruth's journey with Naomi, which highlight the rewards of steadfast faith. Through heartfelt prayer and gratitude, we invite you to align your actions with God's word, trusting in His plan and opening your heart to the blessings He has prepared. Join us on this enlightening journey and discover how faith-based decisions can lead to a life enriched with purpose and divine guidance.
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Intro and outro created by Joe Anderson Jr. of Truflava Productions
Good morning saints. Good morning, good morning our virtual audience. Praise God, praise God. While the choir is getting to their seats, can we give a round of applause to the head of this house, to Pastor Walter Bowers Jr and Lady Tiffany. Can we give a praise unto the Lord Jesus Christ For our shepherd of this house? Hallelujah, bless your Lord Jesus. We just bless you. Father Saints, we just want to welcome you and just say good morning, good morning, you can have a seat. Have a seat.
Speaker 1:Anyone that's been in a Sunday school class and been in a youth ministry with me. I'm not conventional, so, however the Lord gives it to me, that's how we go. So we will get to standing before the Lord to read the word, but I want to set the atmosphere today Because we're at a time in our nation, in our world, in our societies, where we're being pressed and challenged on every side emotionally, financially, mentally, physically word for us to help us to navigate and to be victorious in 2025 and beyond. He has a specific word that he wants to impart upon us so that we can make it through, and not just make it through but, but thrive in the midst of in some cases could be chaos, not necessarily, but just the turning of stuff that goes in our head, the turning of the events and the issues of life that we have to face Now. We face them in 21, 22, 23, 24. But God wants to take us to a level, to a higher level, as Pastor Chris mentioned, so that we can function in a higher level of an anointing to take us to where we need to be for what's coming. And so, in setting the atmosphere, I want you to imagine that you are at a Starbucks or at a Barnes and Noble and you're just sitting down or maybe having a brunch. I want you to be relaxed when you hear this word. I want you to be comfortable with your cup of joe, your latte for whatever genre you're in, your frappuccino, whatever is. But I want you to be relaxed and and really impart and take in what the spirit of the lord is saying for us, because we're dealing with life.
Speaker 1:Decisions are all around us. Every minute and hour of the day. We have decisions about what home to buy, whether or not I take another job or not, what my calling into the ministry is. What ministry do I function in? How much do I sow a seed into the kingdom? How much am I going to extend my faith for what God is trying to impart in my life? Do I have any part in that, or do I just sit in the seat and wait and see what God wants to do without me having to put any input in All of those are the decisions that are running through our heads. How do I take care of my parents? How do I bury my loved ones? These are just everyday decisions that we have to deal with. How do I get to work the next day if I don't have transportation? How do I make ends meet when I want to be here but I'm still here?
Speaker 1:I've come to tell you that God says that your decision matters and it comes with power. The title of this message is your decision. I didn't say Jesus's decision, didn't say Jesus's decision, because everything that pertains to life and godliness and success and prosperity, god has already done his work, sent the message through his son Jesus, given, given us the Holy Spirit, and Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father. The only thing Jesus is doing right now is interceding for us nonstop. That everything that God decreed and everything that Jesus lived is manifested in all those that believe in the name of Jesus. So Jesus is not getting up to do anything for us. The only thing the Holy Spirit is going to do is confirm the word that you live and speak, because that is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:The question is do you believe that your decision has power? That's the real issue and I'm going to tell you when we look at Galatians, chapter 6 you don't have to put it up on the screen Galatians, chapter 6, verse 7 how can I make the statement and tell you that your decision has power? Because he says that God is not mocked or deceived or fooled, whatsoever a person sows. Whatsoever a person sows that, shall they also reap. That is an earthly and a spiritual law that was put into place back in Genesis. God's not coming back to make that happen. It's already in place. It's already functioning in the earth, the same thing that gravity is doing, even though you don't see it. Gravity is still functioning in the earth, the same thing that gravity is doing, even though you don't see it. Gravity is still functioning in the earth, regardless of whether you believe it or whether you don't. Gravity is still functioning, regardless of whether you believe Sowing and reaping or seed time and harvest Is actually functioning in the earth. Regardless of whether you believe it or not, it's working, it's happening. So, whether you believe that your decisions have power or not, they still are working.
Speaker 1:The decision that you don't make is working and the decisions that you do make are working. Does that make sense? All right, praise God, so you can stand now, because we're going to Proverbs, chapter 16, verses one through three, and it reads the preparations of the heart belong to Jesus. Oh, oh, I'm sorry, I made a mistake. Okay, the preparations of the heart belong to my wife. Oh, okay, so the preparations of the heart belong to my pastor. Oh, okay, the preparations of the heart belong to man. That means every person in the room, male or female, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord, meaning that the outcome of your preparation or the outcome of your plan, you don't make a decision, nothing happens. Nothing happens Because if you don't make a decision, if we don't make a decision, if we don't plan and make preparations from out of the heart, if we don't plan and make preparations from out of the heart and the decisions and preparations that we make from the heart, we need to be led by the spirit of God.
Speaker 1:If we don't function in that, we're not functioning in faith. So how's God going to confirm anything? Okay, let's look at verse people, verse 2. Go back, verse 2 all the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits. So we may have a plan, we may have a strategy, and it looks pure in our own eyes, but if we don't sanctify that plan unto the Lord, then we're not going to get the Lord's outcome. We're going to sow something and reap something that is not in line with God's will.
Speaker 1:Okay, and then let's go to verse 3. Commit your works to the Lord Ooh, look at that and your thoughts will be established. So again, your decision matters, because that's your thought, isn't it? Your decision matters and it comes with power, because he said it here Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established. But if you're not committing any works, if you're not taking action on any thoughts, if you're not preparing or planning for success and for God to intervene and interact in your life, then you have no fruit In your life. Then you have no fruit, then we have no power, then we are sowing the wrong thing, because the last time I checked. You sow a watermelon seed, you don't get corn. You sow a tomato seed, you don't get corn. You sow a tomato seed, you don't get spinach. Never seen, it, never happened. And I'm from New York and there's not much dirt and farming in New York City. I have never seen anybody to plant any type of plant and get a car or anything else other than the seed that was planted, because everything that is needed for the seed to grow and to multiply is already in the seed. It's already in the seed, already in the seed. It's already in the seed, already in the seed. So you can have a seat now. Because here we go, looking at a couple of examples of this, so that we can kind of bring it home and I'm ahead of time. Thank you, jesus.
Speaker 1:Let's look at two examples of this concept in scriptures. Let's go to Matthew, chapter 15, verse 21. Matthew 15, verse 21, says then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon, verse 22. And behold, a woman of Canaan, a Gentile, came from that region and cried out to him saying have mercy on me, oh Lord, son of Davidid, my daughter is severely demon possessed. Next verse. But he answered her? Not a word. Did I read that right?
Speaker 1:Jesus, the son of the living god, him that was all powerful and all knowing, said not a mumbling word. He answered her not a word. And his disciples came and urged him, saying send her away, for she cries out after us. In another version it says she's begging, get her out of our presence. She's begging, get her out of our presence. But he answered and said I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And we're going to hit these verses again, but verse 25,.
Speaker 1:Then she came and worshipped him saying Lord, help me. But he answered and said it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs. Basically, jesus was probably saying that, hey, you asking for a blessing that you're not supposed to get. Next verse 28. Then, oh, I didn't read 27. Go back to 27. I'm sorry. And she said yes, lord. Yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table.
Speaker 1:Next verse Then Jesus answered and said to her oh woman, great is your faith. Let it be to you as you desire. And her daughter was healed from that very hour, from that very hour. So let's look at this. The question that we should be asking Is what Made her faith so great? Because Jesus said that he said how great Is your faith? So obviously he saw that she had great faith. But is this not the same Jesus who didn't even acknowledge her? There's, there's something going on there that we need to dig into. Wouldn't you say, let's let's dig a little deeper.
Speaker 1:So if we go back to verse 22, go back to verse and behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to him, saying have mercy on me, o Lord son of David, my daughter is severely demon possessed. Saying have mercy on me, o Lord son of David, my daughter is severely demon-possessed. Was she Jewish? Was she an Israelite? She was a Gentile. She was a Canaanite. Were the promises of God for the Canaanites?
Speaker 1:At this point in time, it sounds to me she was trying to get something for nothing. Because if she had no right to get the blessing, why is she asking and calling Jesus Lord? She has no right to any of the promises of God, to any of the anointing of God in her life. She's not entitled to it. But she did one thing that caught Jesus's attention. Can anybody guess what it was. She sought Jesus out. She made a decision that whatever my daughter needs that man has I don't know I'm not in relationship with him the way that he wants me to be in relation. I don't even have the history, the blood right as an Israelite, but I got enough sense to know that what my daughter needs he has. So the first thing that she did right was she made a decision that if I don't do anything, nothing is going to happen good for my daughter. Nothing is going to happen good for my daughter. So, because we have spiritual laws already in place Sowing and reaping she sowed, she sowed.
Speaker 1:What did she sow? Her decision. She sowed her decision. She sowed her decision that she was going to believe that Jesus had the power that comes off of you, the, the, the, the essence of who God is on the inside of you, that that that's, that's the energy, that's your thoughts have power. Because doesn't the word say in Hebrews 1 now, faith is the substance of things hoped for. Last time I checked, I don't think that hope is this, is it. Is hope something tangible, is hope something I can go to the store and buy it with. No. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Not seen. So she sowed her belief.
Speaker 1:She made a decision and that decision she sowed into the spirit realm that, jesus, whoever you are, even though my understanding of you is limited my belief is is that you can handle this. And this is where I'm going, saints for 2025. You've got to believe that Jesus can handle whatever is coming your way. You got to believe that Jesus can handle whatever is coming your way, regardless of who the president is, regardless of who's in the Senate or the Congress, regardless of what the economy does. You've got to believe, you got to make a decision to believe that Jesus can handle this. That was her first act of faith, her plan slash acts of faith. She sought him out because he was traveling. He had no intention to come see her, but she went and sought him out because of what she believed. Moving on, she then in verse 23, I believe it is, or verse 22. Go to 22 real quick. It says she cried out. That's another act of faith.
Speaker 1:It wasn't just enough for her to make a decision and see, there are things that are happening in our lives where we make a decision but we don't put no action to it and God is like, excuse me, making a decision is not taking a step of faith. That's one part of the equation. But you've got to take action on what you believe, on the decision. Ok, let's put it this way I'm deciding that, hey, if I want to get a, if I want to get a better job, I'm deciding that, hey, if I want to get a better job, or if I want to be able to improve my life from a financial standpoint, I have to make a decision and or put together some sort of preparation of the heart that says well, maybe I need to go and either get a skill, maybe I need to be able to go back to school, maybe I whatever that is it needs to take some action, which means you got to register for school. It's not enough just to say I want to get a better job, I want to improve my lifestyle, I want to make more money, but and I'm making a decision I'm going to do this. But if you never go down to the school and fill out the application, or apply for financial aid, or figure out how you're going to pay for it, or apply to your job, for tuition assistance, it is never going to happen. So a decision without action doesn't work.
Speaker 1:The two go hand in hand. Okay, she sought him out and then she pleaded for mercy. She pleaded for mercy why? Because she was stressed. She was stressed over the issue and the situation, and all of us are stressed over situations and issues in our lives. But are we pleading for mercy? Are we acting on our faith? Did we seek him out? Or are we wringing our hands and crying and snotting and getting tissue and we haven't surrendered it unto the Lord? God is challenging us saints to do better with that, verse 23.
Speaker 1:She did all of that go back to 23, but he answered her not a word. How many times have we done all of that and didn't hear nothing? Oh, but you're going to get deliverance when you read the end and understand the end. Even the disciples didn't want to have nothing to do with her. Oh, but you're going to get deliverance when you read the end and understand the end. Even the disciples didn't want to have nothing to do with her. How many times has your family members, your friends, your church brothers and sisters Can't, can't relate to what you're going through, don't have any?
Speaker 1:In this particular case, they didn't have any compassion. All they saw was you're a Gentile, you're a Canaanite, you don't have any rights to this blessing and to what Jesus is giving, and so therefore, stop aggravating me. How many times people have done that to us and we got discouraged. But what was her response? Let's go to verse 23 again and then let's go down to 24. They said send her away, for she cries out after us, she's inconveniencing us Verse 24. But Jesus now responds because Jesus sees something in her that the disciples didn't see.
Speaker 1:Jesus saw her decision. Jesus saw that she was acting on her faith, because Jesus recognized and understood. But he test her, jesus test her, he said. But he answered and said I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Basically, he's blowing her off. If you read it that way, he's saying listen, I ain't got nothing for you. In common vernacular, I hear your need, I hear your issue, but I'm not for you. I've got a mission and I'm trying to stay on task. What's the next verse? Verse 25, I think it was.
Speaker 1:Then she came and worshipped him. She elevated her decision to another level. She elevated her decision to another level. How many times have we elevated our decision to another level. Because, see, in order for her to do this, she had to block out all the noise from the disciples. She had to block out the fact that Jesus ignored me the first time. She had to block out the fact that I'm not entitled to this blessing, but I'm still going to ask for it Anyway. No, keep that scripture up. I know you're trying to do both for the folks.
Speaker 1:Then she came and worshiped him, saying Lord, help me. So what's the difference between verse 25 and the other one, verse 23? Because all she did she said Lord, help me. She cried out have mercy on me, son of David. She gave him the title that he had, but this was different. This was worshiped him saying Lord, help me. And Jesus recognized that. But check out what Jesus did. Next, verse 26. But he answered and said it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs. He's testing her again. God's testing you sometimes to find out is your worship pure, is your heart pure, or is Jesus the genie in the bottle and you just want to rub the lamp and see what you can get out of the genie and then put the genie back. God, god, saying God, god specific. Jesus specifically tested her. Why? Why did Jesus test her? You can write this down because this came from the Holy Ghost and it actually came at the funeral we went to yesterday.
Speaker 1:Because faith cannot grow in a lazy environment. Faith cannot grow in a lazy environment. Lazy thinking, not taking action on God's word, not taking action on God's word, wanting somebody else to carry your pail of water, and you don't want to carry your pail of water. You want the pastor to pray it off of him instead of you getting in your closet and handling your business, because your decision matters and it comes with power, not the pastor, because your decision matters and it comes with power, not the pastor, not your mama and your daddy. You, your decision, your decision. Faith cannot grow in a lazy environment. It says in Romans 12 and 2, and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. The transformation of your mind is you making a decision to go God's way and not your way To go God's way, and what the word says and not what the culture is saying, or even how you feel or what your family members say. That's where we're going here, if we're going to elevate she's elevated her faith to worship.
Speaker 1:And Jesus still tested her a second time. He tested her the first time when he didn't even speak to her. He tested her the second time when he didn't even speak to her. He tested her the second time when he said it's not right to give food to the dogs Verse 25,. One more time. Then she came and worshipped him saying Lord, help me. Game changing decision. Game changing decision. Game changing decision.
Speaker 1:Jesus tested her again.
Speaker 1:Why?
Speaker 1:Why did Jesus test her again?
Speaker 1:Why does Jesus test us again? Because he wants to see are you persistent? Are you for real? Are you really sold out to me being your Lord and Savior and deliverer? Or is this a transactional situation? Or is this a transactional situation when, as long as I give you what you want, you don't want to be in, but we don't want to be in relationship with him? See, she's moving up the ladder to be in relationship with Jesus, to be in relationship with Jesus.
Speaker 1:So Jesus was testing to see. Before I give you my goodies, before I release my anointing and give you what you want, I need to know that you're sincere. I need to know that you are dedicated to be in relationship with me, that this is not a one-shot deal and you just walk away and got what you wanted, which is your daughter is no longer demon-possessed. But you won't worship me, you won't acknowledge who I am and the fact that you just want the power that comes from me. So he tested her again Because Jesus wanted to see her persistence. Jesus wanted to see her passion, her passion for what she was believing God for and what she was willing to do and to conform to. Because in order for her to conform and receive from God, she had to conform and change her mind.
Speaker 1:Thinking Because, see, jesus saw in her that she had enough faith to believe Jesus for something that was not in the earth yet. That's what made her faith so great. She was believing Jesus to usher in blessings for a Canaanite, for a Gentile that had not been promised yet, but she was exercising faith for it and he recognized that. But it came with a test To see if it was for real. So what makes her faith so? To see if it was for real. So what makes her faith so? Okay, father? Yes, thank you for slowing me down.
Speaker 1:Verse 27. Verse 27. Verse 27. And she said, yes, lord, responding to Jesus's test. Okay, she responded to the first test, which is he didn't say anything. And the other test was the disciples said get out of my face.
Speaker 1:Jesus then says, basically said something, blew her off and said you're not entitled to this. But then she responds and said and she said, yes, lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table. She said I know I'm not entitled, I know that the promise is not for me yet, but because I believe that who you are, and I'm elevating my faith and I'm recognizing that I don't want you, I don't want a transact that is based on true communion and fellowship, where I believe who you are and who sent you. And even though I'm not an Israelite, a child of the promise under the Abrahamic law, I still want to be in relationship with you, so I worship you. And in making this statement, let's read it one more time, because it says and she said yes, lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table Verse 28. Dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table Verse 28. Then Jesus answered and said to her oh, woman, great is your faith. Let it be to you as you desire. And her daughter, from that very hour. Now, hold on one second.
Speaker 1:She made a decision. She had purity of heart, she had a willingness to submit, which was evidenced by her worship. She fought through and was persistent, had passion and conviction, and then she wrestled with God. Oh, what are you talking about? What do you mean? That's such a strong word. She wrestled with God. I need to know where that is in the Bible, where somebody wrestles with God. Oh, let's talk about Genesis, chapter 32. Verse 22 through 29. See, if we're going to elevate our faith to another level, we have to be willing to wrestle with God to get the blessing that you want to be in relationship to the one that can fix and handle all of the issues that we're going to deal with in 2025. We've got to elevate our faith to that level. So we got to be willing to wrestle with God, and the only the one of the the scriptures that talks about the person that wrestled with God is Jacob. Turn to Genesis 32, verse 22.
Speaker 1:Then Jacob was left alone and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. In another version, it said that God came down and wrestled with him Verse 23,. Now, when he saw that he did not prevail against him talking about God, he touched the socket of his hip and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as he wrestled with him Verse 25. Oh well, verse uh. Did I read 25? Thank you 26. And he said God said, and he said let me go for the day breaks. But he said I will not. Jacob said I will not let you go unless you bless me. When's the last time you done wrestled with God for a blessing that you didn't deserve? When's the last time we wrestled with God for a blessing that we did not deserve? Jacob did, the Canaanite woman did, and we don't have time to go into it part B of this message.
Speaker 1:But if you read Ruth chapter 2, the Moabite woman, she did too. Ruth chapter 2, read the story. Everything you just read about the Canaanite Gentile woman. That's what Ruth did and she became the grandmother of David, a Moabite woman and that character, boaz, that you read in the Bible. When you do a little bit of history, you wonder why Boaz had such a heart for Ruth, who was a foreigner, and God set that up Because his daddy was Salmon, who was one of the spies that went into Jericho when she let down the red cord. Rahab is his mama, boaz's mama, and the reason he had such compassion on Ruth Was because he could relate to the fact that because his mother, rahab, made a decision to follow God and to serve God, that her life was blessed abundantly and therefore Boaz was blessed abundantly and was a part of the Israelites.
Speaker 1:When's the last time we wrestled with God for a blessing that we didn't deserve? Because Jacob's decision. What's the title of the lesson? Your decision matters and it comes with power. Jacob got a blessing Because he made a decision. I'm not turning this. I'm not turning this.
Speaker 1:Whether you want to call it the angel of God, god, the representation of God, he would not turn that person loose until he got a blessing. That Canaanite woman would not turn. God would not turn Jesus loose. She even wrestled with him with the wording and saying, yeah, you're right, but you know it's okay if the crumbs fall from the master's table and the dogs get a little bit of the crumbs, because the little bit of anointing that falls from the crumbs is enough to take care of my daughter's illness. She knew enough about that.
Speaker 1:What are we going to do with it, though? What are we going to do with it, though? What are we going to do with it? That's what God wants to know. God wants to know are we going to elevate our level of faith? Are we going to wrestle with him and be in relationship with him? See the reason. Oh, okay, I got you Lord.
Speaker 1:He said oh, for some of you that don't think that that's true. Let's read. We're not reading it, but it's in Genesis, chapter 18. Where God is negotiating how many people With Abraham. Abraham is bartering for Sod, sodom and gomorrah, for lives, and he's wrestling with god to get it from. I think it was 50. It started all the way down to 10, and god said it is as you say. It is as you say. It is as you say. He's wrestling with God because he's in relationship. You can wrestle with God when you're in relationship with him.
Speaker 1:The woman transferred a relationship that was non-existent into a relationship that was existent when she decided to worship, and she decided to be persistent and pass the test that God put before that Jesus put before. You going to pass your test? Am I going to pass my test, see, because there are a lot of things that we believe in God for and the timing is not right, but that doesn't mean God said no, or the plan is incomplete that we came up with, but that doesn't mean you scrapped the project. What it means is that you go back and submit it back to the Lord and see what the adjustments are. And submit it back to the Lord and see what the adjustments are, because anything that God adjusts in your plan is going to be a whole lot better than your original plan. Because if we trust God enough, we have to learn how to trust God enough that whatever God brings my way is a whole lot better than anything that I can imagine. But do we trust him with that? Do we trust him with that?
Speaker 1:So, to tie this up as we are toward the end, remember to read Ruth, chapter 2. Because Ruth had a decision. Actually Ruth, for those that are writing, I'll give you the scriptures Ruth's decision was in verse 1, chapter 1, excuse me, verses 16 through 18, where she said to Naomi your God is going to be my God and and wherever you go, I go, and I know I'm a Moabite, but I I have gleaned from you as my mentor that I and and and Naomi had a problem because she saw herself as as Mara, and Mara means one, that's that that's unfulfilled or missed, missed out on a blessing. That's how Naomi perceived herself when she got back to Bethlehem. But the other thing that that we forget in that scripture and I want to remind you when, because you probably will ask the question where was Ruth's test? Ruth's test was when she made that decree in chapter 1, verses 16 and 18, her test was I'm going to have to follow Naomi a distance what Bible scholars say is anywhere from five to twenty miles walking back in treacherous territory to women by themselves, where they could have been attacked, raped, stolen, put into slavery because they had no mail to protect them. She made a decision to act on her faith, even though she knew oh wow, she's talking about going back to Bethlehem If I make this decree. I got to go back with her, but she was willing. That was her test To see. Are you really serious about what you said?
Speaker 1:And then the other scripture is Ruth's initiative, chapter 20, chapter two, verse two. The initiative that once she got to Bethlehem, she was determined and said to Naomi I'm going out and I'm going to go and take care to get the sheaves and start plowing and whatever, gathering the sheaves from from an obscure, from any field. I'm just going out there. And she stumbled on a blessing. She made a plan, she made a decision, she made a plan and then she acted on the plan. When she walked the five to 20 miles through the desert, mountain terrain, whatever you want to call it, she fulfilled that first test. Then they're there and they have no way of being able to take care of themselves. And so then Ruth says I'm going out into the field, I'm just going to go ahead and gather. That was her plan. And she stumbled on Boaz.
Speaker 1:God's waiting for you to make some decisions. God's waiting for me to make some decisions so that we can take a step of faith, so that we can stumble into a blessing. God wants us to make a decision, act on his word, be a a believer. And as we walk into it we stumble into a blessing. A blessing that was prepared because Boaz had a heart that could relate to being a foreigner, because his mama, rahab, was a foreigner. Only God could hook that up. Only God could hook that up and have a prepared blessing waiting for Ruth's decision. God's got a prepared journey for you, with already pieces in place, but he just needs you to make a decision. God's got a prepared journey for you, with already pieces in place, but he just needs you to make a decision so you can stumble into a blessing, because the word, when you read it, says she inadvertently gathered in the field where Boaz was. That's your blessing waiting to happen for you. But you can't get it if you're on the sidelines and you won't make a decision. You can't get it unless you take action on the decision, and then you can't take. You can't get it unless you submit and sanctify your plans and your preparations unto the spirit of the living God.
Speaker 1:So, in conclusion, oh and the last, was Ruth's tenacity chapter 2, verses five through 12. Boaz recognized her tenacity because he saw it in his mama. He was able to recognize the tenacity of what it took her for her to get to where she was, and he appreciated it because he saw it in his mama, rahab, the prostitute, the one that made a decision to protect the spies and ended up marrying Salman, and Salman and her ended up having Boaz and Boaz ended up being Ruth's husband, and Rahab, and who was the, from Jericho, which was a Canaanite, and Ruth, who was a Moabite, are in the lineage of our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ. So, as we conclude, your decision matters and it comes with power, because God has blessed his seed. God has blessed his seed and he expects a return on his seed, but he needs you to make a decision. And so, as we close out, as we have heard God's word and where God wants to take us, there may be people in our audience, here or online, that God is challenging you to make a decision.
Speaker 1:God is saying that you may not know all of the these and the thous of the Bible. You may not know all of the these and the thous of the Bible. You may not know all of the things that make you righteous, and all Jesus is saying is you don't have to be perfect. All I need you to do is believe. All I need you to do is make a decision. If you do that, I'll show you how to stumble into a blessing. I'll show you how to stumble into a blessing. So, if there's anyone that wants to give their life to the Lord, please stand, saints.
Speaker 1:If anyone here that wants to give their life unto the Lord, lord wants to make a decision to give their life unto Christ, whether you be in the building or online. If you believe that Jesus is the son of God, the savior of the world, and that he died for us to live and to be made whole, to be restored back in right relationship to God, the Father, if you believe that and you confess that with your mouth and believe in your heart, then you are saved and you are now in the family of God. And it has nothing to do with you are saved and you are now in the family of God. And it has nothing to do with you being perfect. It has nothing to do. We just saw that the Moabite and the Canaanite Gentile had no right for eternal life or any of the blessings, but because they believed, because they acted on their faith and on their belief, god did something miraculous for them. And how much more will he do for all of us, those that have already committed to the spirit of the living God, if we just surrender and that we just cry out? Have mercy on me, oh Lord. Guide my footsteps.
Speaker 1:There may be those that are in the congregation, that are here in the building, that want to, that you're looking for a church home that you're looking for a church home, you haven't made a decision about where you want to fellowship and where you want to receive the word of God from. We invite you and welcome you here. We're not perfect None of us are but we are striving to learn about all of who Christ Jesus is. We don't want a transactional relationship. We want a relationship that is based on sincerity and purity of heart. So if you are looking for a church home and you're making a decision today, please come forward. We have people that will minister to you in the back.
Speaker 1:Praise God, hallelujah. Thank you, jesus. Praise God, hallelujah. Thank you, jesus. Praise God, welcome, welcome. Is there anyone else? Bless you. Bless you, jamal.
Speaker 1:You want to close out?
Speaker 1:Okay?
Speaker 1:Well, saints, we are right on time.
Speaker 1:I purpose to be done by 930 and it's 921. So that's good, I think. I just want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to to minister to you, and I love teaching, I love the word of God and elevating all of us to a high level of faith. And so, if you can bow our heads in prayer, father, in the name of Jesus, we just honor you, we just love you, lord. We appreciate you being patient with us, lord, we thank you for elevating our level of faith in you, lord God.
Speaker 1:Thank you, father, for showing us that you want relationship, lord God, and we desire and we are making better decisions, lord God, and making acts of faith that are in line with your word, so that you can usher in the destiny and the purpose that you have for our lives, so that you can cause us to inadvertently stumble into a blessing. Oh, lord god, because you have ordained our steps and ordered our steps. You've even enlarged our steps so that we would not slip, lord God, and that you are faithful that promise. We thank you, lord God, and just ask that you bless your people, heal your people, deliver your people, lord God, cause them to grow and mature in all things that pertain to life and that pertain to godliness. In Jesus' name, we call him blessed. In Jesus' name, we thank you. Amen, praise God.
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