Showdown Etiquette - Touré Roberts

1:37 because there's some dimensions of the oil Fresh oil, freshly crushed. that you can't get to, watch this,

1:57 on the other side of the breakthrough that you're praying for. You understand what I'm saying? You're going to praise him and you're going to celebrate him and you're going to rejoice, but it's going to be a praising and a celebration and a rejoice of release and relief. And that is profitable. That's good. but when you're in the tension you will never be more fresh in the spirit wish I could say that better we want understandably deliverance from the scenario that's producing the pressure that's producing you You understand what I'm saying? And that's understandable.

2:51 No one wakes up in the morning and says, give me this day my daily pain. so I'm not beating up on you for that. But the truth of the matter is, you and I cannot be without going through the birth canal of pressure and tension. It produces the things that you would not know to pray for.

3:26 There are things that your assignment your purpose your calling and your identity Require that you would not pray for and God answers a prayer that you would not pray. We're in a time, it is a very holy time.

3:59 It's a very, very holy time. It is not a time for randomness. It is not a time for wasting time or energy or effort. We have no time to waste. None.

4:21 I'm grateful for that song. We're writing songs. The Bible talks about singing unto the Lord a new song because part of your ability to navigate the seasons that we're in will be your soundtrack. Are you hearing me? One of our songs was nominated for a Dove Award just recently, which is wonderful. That's wonderful. the song What a God. But this All Authority, in fact, you can download it. Watch, it's not for us. For you. We produced it for you, and you can download that song, All Authority, and I'm excited. When I talk about we're going to need every resource at our disposal, I am grateful for our bishop and our first lady.

5:17 I really, really, really... I really am, and especially for my bride, our pastor, Pastor Sarah. and for all of our ministers and pastors and leaders and deacons and and and I take PMT's everybody I take my time to say that because we're in a time where we're going to have to bring all of our resources to the front line are you tracking so last week I started something Thank you. I started something. I want to be a little transparent with you. The level of warfare that I've experienced over this word... It's been very, very, very unusual.

6:19 Last week, coming into last week, warfare was crazy. Then warfare broke out while I was preaching it. And then as I'm coming into this week, we couldn't finish it. And God holds times and seasons, and God is brilliant. So he knew that there was going to be a part two.

6:46 Come on, somebody. The devil can't delay God. He wanted us to meditate on that first part a little bit. But the level of warfare has been crazy. Now, let me tell you something. I'm not saying that to make you feel sorry for me. I almost debated about whether or not I would even tell you. Most of the time, I don't even talk about warfare. But the only reason why I felt the release to share it is because I want you to understand what is normal when you're on the cusp of something.

7:14 When the enemy throws everything at you to the point where you wonder if you're even going to make it through, that's when you know you are on the precipice, you are on the cusp of something so radically transformational to your life, to the lives that are those around you, to the world. Watch this. That it is worthy of such demonic attention. You haven't even begun to move in the spirit until your life is worthy to attract the attention of high-level spirits.

8:03 Congratulations. Let's get into it. I want to draw your attention really quickly. I know you've been standing for a while to 1 Kings chapter 17. We're going to go back. Last week we were in 1 Kings 18. We're talking about showdowns. Because we are in a season of showdowns. I'm telling you. I'll recap a little and we'll get into where we're going today. We looked at Elijah on Mount Caramel. And that powerful showdown that God set up. But we're going back.

8:47 in order to go forward. 1 Kings 17, we'll read the first 11 verses. It says, And Elijah the Tishbite of the inhabitants of Gilead said to Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years except at my word. Then the word of the Lord came to him, came to him, Elijah, saying, get away from here and turn eastward and hide by the brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook. And I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. so he went and did according to the word of the lord for he went and stayed by the brook which flows into the jordan the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening and he drank from the book from the brook and it happened after a while that the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.

10:10 Then the word of the Lord came to him saying, Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there, for I have commanded a widow there to provide for you. So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, indeed, a widow was there. gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, please bring me a little water in a cup that I may drink. And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand. Father, I thank you for the privilege and the honor of carrying your word to your beloved, to your sons and daughters that you love so deeply and passionately that you sent your son Jesus to die to redeem them into fellowship and communion with you.

11:13 Now, God, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. I thank you, God, for the spirit of wisdom and revelation and clarity, God. I pray that the words that proceed out of my mouth would be for the edifying of your sons and daughters, both present and those watching via live stream. I thank you for the spirit of wisdom, revelation, insight, knowledge, prophecy, full access to the holiest of hovies to bring bread, God, that will feed us to the full that we would be transformed and equipped and aligned for the times that we're living in. I love you, God. Get the glory in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Please, as you take your seat, greet someone with a blessing. Greet somebody with a blessing.

12:06 Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah. Last week, we began our conversation by speaking to the fact that we're in a season of showdowns. and we talked about what that meant and we aligned it with Daniel and one of the things that he said in Daniel chapter 11 and 32 which speaks to what will happen in the end times and it talks about how those who know their God are going to be strong and they're going to carry out they're going to do great exploits so one of the marks and the signs of people who truly know their God in these end times is that they're going to be strong and they're going to accomplish very, very powerful things that will ultimately bring glory to God. And so we're moving into that time where the exploits that are assigned to your life are now due. They are now due. And one of the things that I've learned about God is oftentimes God is ready for us before we are ready for us.

13:25 Because God, he's a God that determines the end from the beginning. So he's not waiting on us to show up or to be awakened. He has already determined the moments when we are supposed to watch this ripe for the plucking are you hearing me and so even when we look at this particular showdown that we talked about last weekend with with Elijah Elijah did not initiate that showdown we learned last week that God initiated the showdown between Elijah and Ahab and ultimately over 850 false prophets which I can tell you right now you know Elijah you know he looks all courageous and brave and bold and all that kind of stuff but that was scary because at that time they were killing the prophets the true prophets were being killed and slaughtered and Elijah was a true prophet but God said now I need you to go and present yourself to Ahab because the time was right for God to reveal himself re-reveal himself to the children of Israel that he was Yahweh he was the true God so God sets up showdowns because there are moments where people where the world needs to understand that God is God so that it will produce a revival in the land revival does not happen on our terms God knows when there needs to be a a sweeping movement to keep things on schedule.

15:11 Can I talk to you like this today? So we're talking about showdowns and there comes a moment and there comes a time where you must be you. there are so many almost every encounter that the Lord had with someone who was going to do something great there was always a conflict between their readiness and God's awareness of their readiness I need to say that better let me just give you an example Jeremiah 1 we love Jeremiah 1 where God tells Jeremiah before I formed you in the belly I knew you and I ordained you and I sanctified you and I set you apart and we think that that Jeremiah hears that word Dr. Jill and then automatically says yes and he moves no no no no no Jeremiah immediately follows up with saying uh-uh behold I cannot speak study when you get a chance he says behold I cannot speak I am a child this lets us know that God's timing versus our timings are oftentimes very different and Jeremiah was not the only one with that issue Gideon had the same mission it was time it was time for the children of God to begin to conquer and dominate their enemies and take back what the enemy had stolen so he raises up Gideon he says Gideon now let me tell you something Gideon you are a mighty man of valor this is who you are this is how I see you I made you I formed you before I put you in your mother's womb I know you better than you know you Gideon, you mighty man of valor, is what God says.

16:46 And Gideon says, hold up. You got the wrong fella. I am of all, I'm the least of all, I'm the least of all the tribes and I'm the least in the tribe. So there's always going to be, watch this, a showdown between who God knows you are and who you think you are. And that's the moment that we're standing in now. And so God will oftentimes force it. so we don't miss it. So we defined a showdown. Is it okay if I take just a little bit of recap? So we defined the showdown, and I'm going to read it again, and you can screenshot it if they still have it. But a showdown is described as a decisive confrontation between two opposing forces, often, watch this, when tension has been building

17:56 and both of those opposing forces, opposing opinions are compelled to face each other directly. I feel this so strongly. So this is not just conflict because oftentimes there is conflict but no confrontation. I always want to take my time and work that for a minute. There is oftentimes a conflict. Showdown is not just conflict. It's about a confrontation because of the conflict. Because we oftentimes live with conflict. Let me make it practical just for a second. We will often say, well, I don't want to be, I don't want there to be any conflict.

18:44 The reason why you're saying that you don't want there to be any conflict abnegating your responsibility to confront is because of conflict. Well, I don't want to start. It's already started. So you're basically saying, because of what's this, my personality or my fear of confrontation or my avoidance spirit, then I'm going to tolerate a conflict, come on somebody, because I have a peaceful personality. There ain't no peace. You're just taking the conflict and bringing it within yourself. Thank you. So a showdown is when you move to a moment, or God moves you to a moment, to where enough is enough.

19:49 Because there does come a time where, watch this, enough is too much. and as a result of it, there has to be a conflict. Let me give you another definition. Well, I'll finish that. It's not just conflict. It's the climatic moment where talk, shucking and jiving. I'll put that in. I'm going to add shucking and jiving in there.

20:18 Maneuvering or posturing ends. It's over for that. and the outcome must be determined through action. I feel this so strongly. Can't wait to unpack it. A showdown is a divinely arranged encounter where we have to stare something in the face. I can't sweep it under the rug anymore. I can't allow the grace of God to cover it up. I feel it so strongly. I can't play with this anymore. I can't make excuses for them or myself anymore. this conflict is conflicting with my calling.

21:16 Enough is too much when whatever this controversy or conflict is, is beginning to shorten my steps to hinder me or to keep me from what I'm called to, that's too far. Can I take my time and walk it out?

21:44 So it's when God arranges us, and now we have to stare something in the face. And not only that, but we have to bring all of ourselves to the moment and watch God prove his sovereignty on our behalf. I want to talk about a few different types of showdowns, and then we're going to move on. there's going to be in this season showdowns, one, between the circumstance and God's sovereignty. So in other words, God is going to cause some of us to be placed in circumstances that are not comfortable. so that he can show you that he's God even over that circumstance.

22:37 How will I know that God is a God in and over my circumstance unless there's a showdown? I am explaining to some of you why you are in the middle of a battle unlike anything that you've ever seen or faced or experienced before. God wants to show you that even in that he is God.

23:13 Why are there so many names for God? There are so many names for God because God shows himself that he's God over that too. I can heal your body. I can provide for you. I can give you peace that passes all understanding. Are you hearing the words that are coming out of my mouth? And then he just flat out says, listen, I am that I am. I will be whatever I need to be in order to prove and to manifest my sovereignty.

23:47 And so there are showdowns between circumstance and God's sovereignty. Two, there are showdowns between, here's a tough one, your will and what God wants. Hey. That was that Jacob wrestling with the Lord moment. That was a showdown between God's will, which ultimately was his identity. and what he wanted. I don't have time to unpack that thing, but this was, watch this, initially he was wrestling to stay the same. and God said no no no it is time for you to move from being Jacob to Israel I know that your mama and your daddy named you Jacob but let me tell you something you didn't start with your mama and your daddy you started with me before I put you in your mother's womb I knew you and I'm I'm telling you, when you show up right in this showdown, When you get your showdown etiquette together, I'm going to change your name and change your life.

25:07 And if you notice, he stopped fighting to stay the same after God, come on somebody, after God touched his hip and removed his ability to stand on his own, to talk his way out of it, to slick his way out of it, to maneuver and manipulate his way out of it. When God touched him and he could no longer do that, He stopped fighting to stay the same. And he says, oh, wait a minute. I'm holding on to you for dear life, and I'm not going to let you go until you bless me. God, I need you. Showdown!

25:46 It was a showdown. And some of you are in a moment where you have been wrestling between what you want and what God wills. And God may be touching your hip to show you that you can't stand during this time on your own too. You're not even standing. You look, you think you're standing on your own too, but you're not. You're standing on my goodness and my mercy and my grace, but the time is ripe. I need you to be who I created you to be, and I can't hold off any longer because there are a lot of things connected to you being you. You being you oftentimes ain't even about you. You being you sometimes is about your children and your children's children.

26:44 Sons and daughters that haven't even been born yet are connected to you being you. because God is a multi-generational God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I'm thinking generationally. So you think it's about you and you're allowing your personality or your desires or what you want or what you feel like you deserve to keep you from leaning into God. And listen, I'm not only trying to bless you, I'm trying to bless through you. Get it together. There's more to you than you think. There's a whole lineage. coming up behind you. You gotta be thinking about your great, great, great, great grandchildren. They haven't even been born yet, and they're counting on you to get what it takes to show up to the showdown

27:38 so that God can show off on your behalf. And so, there's not only a showdown between circumstance and God's sovereignty, there's not only a showdown between what you want and God's will, but there's also, and this is one of the greatest showdowns, there's also a showdown between you and you. I call it finally facing your giants. Oh, I feel the Holy Ghost so strong. Let me just have some liberty in this house today. This is one of the greatest showdowns ever, because this is one of those showdowns that don't nobody see. This is a wrestling match that happens in your prayer closet. This is a wrestling match where God's voice about a certain thing in your life gets louder and louder and louder and louder. And he's saying, this can't go, this can't go, this can't go.

28:37 This is bigger than you. And there's some people under the sound of my voice. And because the time is ripe, God is saying, I need you. we got to talk about this. You're going to have to face it. I know that you have been heavily dependent and relying upon the grace of God and to a certain degree, and I'm going to say this and I pray this doesn't cut you too deep, but just enough. Sometimes grace is on assignment.

29:12 I gotta say this about this. Sometimes grace, sometimes we misuse grace. Where we think that grace is the black American express. Well I can do what I wanna do, flow how I wanna flow, think how I wanna think, act the way I wanna act, just pull out this, but even the black has a limit. I don't care how big, every credit card. has a limit. And what we don't recognize about grace is, yes, we thank God for his grace, but grace is, grace watches is until you grow. Oh, I wish I could say this better. Grace is there while you are ignorant.

30:08 Grace, I feel God I need to say this right. Grace, maybe if I get a little closer to you, I can say it better. Grace, grace, grace is amazing, and it's wonderful. But grace, there's one interpretation of grace, and that one interpretation of grace is grace is divine enablement. So it is divine ability. But what happens when I'm using grace for something that I can do in my own ability? When I have heard enough, when enough hands have been laid, when I've been filled with the Spirit of God, when I've tasted and seen that the Lord is good, when I've tasted of the powers of the age to come, and I still keep sneaking the candy. It's only candy. It's only a little sugar. Yeah, but God's highlighting it.

31:02 He's highlighting it. Because what you can't see is a little leaving, leaving the whole lump. And so it's a little thing, and you think that it's no thing, but it's a big thing because it's keeping you from everything. And so now I have to have a showdown.

31:27 Whatever the Holy Spirit is highlighting is exactly what I'm talking about. So there are different types of showdowns. And I started this conversation by saying that we are in a holy moment. It's holy. And it's a moment for God's holy people.

31:56 We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation. So, so, so, so, so, so, what I wanna talk about today is showdown etiquette. So we are undeniably, Jalen, we are undeniably in a showdown.

32:21 Undeniably. And since we are in a showdown, we have to be showdown ready. and we have to understand what is the appropriate etiquette for a showdown.

32:43 And we must look at Elijah because I believe that Elijah, as we look at his life, we see a model for proper showdown etiquette. Can I teach today? I prophesied last week. Let me be a teacher today.

33:06 So we begin to talk about Elijah last week. Elijah is extremely fascinating. He shows up on the scene literally out of nowhere. We have no backstory whatsoever as it relates to Elijah. We only have a clue about him, and that is we know that he was a Tishbite from Gilead. Right? And so we have to kind of look at Gilead and try to get some idea of what shaped him.