This Time Is Different - Sarah Jakes Roberts

1:38 If I can offer a little bit of context to what's happening when we engage in this moment in the text. Throughout Corinthians, Paul is writing a letter to the church in Corinth, and throughout 2 Corinthians, when we're reading this, we see a version of Paul that is pleasant and kind and understanding as he's trying to teach these new converts what it means to walk in their newfound faith and their belief in Jesus. But in chapter 10, the tone takes a noticeable shift. So noticeable is this shift that some theologians question whether or not he is the author of this moment in the text. You see, what happens is that Paul is writing to the church for sure, and there's been some division in the church and some issues. And so he's bringing clarity and he's doing it in love and kindness. But there's also some rumors about Paul that are circulating amongst the church.

2:35 and the rumors about Paul that are circulating amongst the church suggest that when he writes the letters he writes with a certain level of fierceness and courage and directness but when he's in person with them he's more meek and humble if I could put it in Ebonics which always helps me when I'm reading the Bible it's like you talking but you ain't walking the way you talking You know, like, you're not really about that life. Like, you wait until you get away from us to talk crazy to us, but when we face to face, you don't have nothing to say. That's what they're trying to say about Paul.

3:14 They're trying to say, you're not really about that life for real. You wait until you get long where you need a messenger to carry a note, and now you want to say something. Y'all don't know people who are like that, and you've never had to tell nobody on the Internet or otherwise that if you had to talk like that to my face, you wouldn't be that bold. Paul is trying to address these rumors that his boldness is only reserved for his letters. And so when he writes this letter, he is writing in response to those who believe that in some way he has diminished himself in person. And it says, now I, Paul, myself, am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am lowly among you. but being absent and bold towards you. He says, but I beg you that when I am present, I may not.

4:07 He said, I'm really trying to not be bold with you in person because when I'm in person with you, it doesn't require that. But if you keep on pushing up against me, I'm going to have to show you that my boldness is not just reserved for letters. But I beg you that when I am present, I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. He says, what you don't understand is that I'm actually using a strategy. Because it's true, I do walk in the flesh. But when it's time to war, I don't war in the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. Paul is saying to them that I reserve my energy for the battles that really matter. And I use a strategy that may be unfamiliar to you because you're used to battle looking a certain way. But this time is different.

5:44 Spirit of the living God, I need you. For certain, we are walking in the flesh, but the moment that I engage in this assignment, I must war in the spirit. So, Lord, where there is weakness or frailty or tiredness in my body, God, I ask that you would give me strength, that you would bring clarity to my mind, that you would fill me with love for your people that I may flow according to heaven's sound. Allow me to release words in this room, God, that make it clear that you hear them, that you see them. When they're watching this video a year from now, two years, ten years from now, God, may it be as fresh and relevant now as it was to the church of Corinth when they received it. And I thank you, God, that you are faithful to deliver. Open our hearts to receive. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen again. Let's go, let's go.

6:49 You know, there is a definition of insanity that we have often heard repeated in the zeitgeist and culture. And no one really cares that it's not the actual definition of insanity. It's become so catchy that we accept it and use it as if it is the actual definition. The definition of insanity actually has to do with a severely disordered state of mind. That is one of the mental health terms or mental health definitions when using the word insanity. There's a legal definition for it as well that has more to do with being in the proper state of mind to make decisions and when a person is declared insane, it means that they don't have that particular framework. But of course, we don't care about the mental health scientific definition, nor do we care about the legal definition.

7:42 We prefer the definition that says the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. And with that in mind, I am going to use and offer my definition of a word. if insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result then I would like to propose that weariness is doing the same thing or thinking the same thing over and over again and experiencing the same disappointment weariness is when I continue to do the thing that I know I'm supposed to do when I continue to do the same thing that I want to do, but I experience the same disappointment over and over and over again. You see, we don't get weary because we're bouncing off of different outcomes.

8:42 We get weary because we're trying the same method over and over again, and we're not seeing anything change, and it would be different if we didn't see anything change, but I always end up with the same disappointment over and over again. I finally got my finances together. I'm finally saved and I'm finally acting right. And I still can't get my head above water. I'm beginning to feel weary. I finally got my circle cleaned up. I'm finally talking the talk and walking the walk, but I'm still experiencing the same disappointment. I'm still experiencing loneliness. Weariness is when we do the same thing over and over and over again and expect and receive disappointment. And I use that definition with intentionality because I realized that there is weariness that can occur from us, not just doing good things. I think it's easy to become weary even when we're doing the wrong things. You see, everybody's all dressed up now and we want everyone to believe that we've always done everything the right way. But the truth is that I have gotten weary in doing some bad things in my life. But that weariness was easy to deal with because I knew I wasn't doing right anyway.

9:50 So it's like, you know, if you wanted some different results, you could actually try and do the right thing But no one talks about those moments where you get weary from doing the right things it's one thing to be weary because I've been doing the same little sinning and the same little cutting up over and over again you get tired of yourself and you say you know what I'm finally going to get my act right I'm finally going to start living right I'm finally going to do the right thing but there's something to be said about the moments where you finally make that decision and the results don't show up the way that you anticipated can we have a real conversation in church that I'm trying to check all the boxes. I'm trying to say all the right things. And it doesn't seem like anything in my life is shifting. And the enemy makes us believe that in those moments I was better off not trying to do right at all if I'm still going to end up with the same results. I'm weary on the inside and I'm trying to keep my head above water and I'm trying to keep my heart pure and I'm trying to keep my language right. But if I'm honest, I'm getting tired of doing the right thing. I'm getting tired of being the bigger person. I'm getting tired of being the one that's always doing the praying. I'm getting tired of being the one who always got to watch their mouth. I'm getting tired of doing the right thing because I see people around me aren't doing the right thing and it seems like they're prospering. I'm getting weary from doing the right thing. Trying to raise these kids the right way and they're still giving me trouble I'm getting weary from doing the right thing trying to make the right decisions in my relationships and I'm still not getting that okay I'm getting weary I'm getting weary I'm getting weary and Paul writes to the church in Galatians and he says to them it starts in verse 8 really but I want to start in verse 9 he says and do not grow weary Paul doesn't say don't be weary Paul says don't grow weary that means that there may be moments where I find myself in a state of

11:57 weariness but then I have to be willing to qualify what choices and decisions am I making that grow this weariness what perspective do I have what expectations do I have that grow this weariness. That word grow is intentional because when it starts in verse 8, we see that Paul uses language about sowing and reaping. He says, and if we sow in the flesh, we will also reap corruption from the flesh. But he who sows in the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. This is sowing and reaping. This is sowing and reaping. That's why I'm careful that I'm sowing in the spirit. I'm not sowing in the flesh. What does it mean to sow in the flesh? I don't do things that make my flesh grow. I don't do things that make my bitterness grow. I don't do things that make my unforgiveness grow, my lust grow. You got to know when you have a problem, you got to know what your flesh pulls on you to do. Because when you know what your flesh pulls on you to do, your flesh is anything that pulls you away from God. Your flesh is anything that distance you away from God. And when I notice that I engage in certain activities, I realize that I'm feeding my flesh.

13:12 so Paul tells the church in Galatians that this is a principle about sowing and reaping that if you sow in the flesh your flesh is going to reap corruption it's going to damage your relationship with God it's going to damage your identity it's going to change the way you show up in the world. But if you sow in the spirit, you will also reap of the spirit. That means that when I forgive you, sometimes I am forgiving you on credit. It's not that I didn't have other options, but I'm trying to sow into my spirit. See, some of us had to press our way in here. We had to let that blanket let us go because I'm trying to sow into my spirit. I changed my music because I'm trying to sow into my spirit. And don't let anybody make you believe that because they've been in church 20 years or 30 years that their harvest comes automatically.

14:10 No, no, no. We got to sow every season into the spirit. Oh, y'all don't want to talk to me? Because some of y'all think you're going to get to a space where you get on cruise control in your faith, where you don't have to sow anymore. But I hear God saying that if you're going to stay fresh, if you're going to stay relevant, if you're going to maintain your authority, If you're going to fight today's devil, you cannot do it with yesterday's harvest. How are you sowing into your spirit today? You got a new devil on a new level, but the old harvest from your spirit? What kind of math is that? What is daily bread for this day? So I'm sowing in the Spirit. And Paul makes sure that he tells his people that when you sow in the Spirit, you got to make sure that you do not expect an immediate outcome. oh see because if you expect an immediate outcome you'll grow weary when you should have been growing in the spirit oh I wish I could say that real good see my weariness grows when I have an expectation for an outcome immediately see I'm sowing for an outcome instead of sowing God of obedience. God, help me to say it the way I feel it in my heart. You see, I am not sowing in the Spirit so that I can have that immediate return and fruit that comes with it. I'm sowing in the Spirit because, one, that is what I am called to do. That is my conviction for my identity.

15:52 I'm not doing it to get. I'm doing it to become. And because I'm doing it to become, I realize I got to be patient in the becoming because I didn't get here overnight. Oh, I wish I could say that real. You did not get crazy overnight. It took generational years of trauma. It took generational years of pain. It took many mistakes. You did not become you overnight. So when I sow in the spirit, I recognize that I'm sowing into a process. I'm sown into a process so I got to settle into the process because reaping takes time but sowing is guaranteed when you know what you put in the ground that's why I got to be careful when I start feeling weary because my weariness starts growing so I got to put something else in the ground I got to say God nevertheless not my will but your will be done. God, I trust you anyhow, because I've got to make sure in a season of sowing that I don't start sowing seeds that grow my weariness. As Paul says, he says in Galatians 6 and 9, he says, and do not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if, if.

17:18 if I can maintain the patience required for the sowing, I will reap. If I manage to not grow weary and not be discouraged by what I see and keep sowing anyway, even when it don't make sense, if I could just keep sowing anyway, even when the math don't matter, if I could just keep sowing anyway, I got to keep feeding my spirit. My situation hasn't changed, but I believe that his word is true. If I keep on sowing, I'm going to reap. If I keep on sowing, I'm going to see what God says. If I keep on sowing, you will reap in due season if you don't lose heart. that means there is a connection between my ability to see harvest and my ability to protect my heart I Gotta learn to protect my heart in seasons where I don't see What I've sowed come to fruit yet. Oh

18:29 Raising that kid and I don't see it yet But I'm still sowing and I'm protecting my heart while I so you know why cuz I don't want to miss harvest when it comes Oh Can I say this the way I feel it? The principle of sowing and reaping is this, that what you sow, you will reap. But just because you reap it doesn't mean that you'll see it. If your heart is lost in the process, you can be standing in harvest and miss it because you lost your heart in the process. because my heart got jaded along the way. I miss when this fruit was beginning to spring up. Oh, I wish I could say that.

19:21 There are moments in our life where we are standing in harvest, but we have become so jaded by the process, so discouraged and so weary that we don't even see the harvest when we're standing in it. So the question is not, will I keep sowing? the question is can I keep heart because my heart will make me sensitive to the moment when harvest is on the way I feel this prophetically for somebody I don't know who you are but I hear God telling me to let you know that I hear the sound of an abundance of rain no no no see we'd have to go all the way back to first Kings to let you know what that means and first Kings when there was a famine in the land he sends a prophet to speak to somebody who was wondering when the harvest was coming and he says I know you don't see the harvest coming but I hear right it's a rainy day no no no I mean this prophetically I don't know who this is for you've been sowing and sowing and sowing and you're getting weary from the seed you put in the ground and I hear God saying get ready get ready get ready get ready I hear God saying don't look at the news don't look to your left and don't look to your right. If you keep your eyes on me, you'll see the clouds when they start rolling.

21:03 You'll hear the thunder before the rain even falls. I hear a sound. I hear a sound. You're about to see in the flesh. You're about to see in their flesh what you've been sowing in the spirit. You're about to see in your life what you've been sowing in the spirit. this weariness is a test this weariness is a test if you can pass the test of this weariness oh I feel that prophetically that wasn't in my notes but I need you to understand that if you can resist the temptation to let your weariness grow. If you can engage in a fight to keep your heart, you got to get your heart back. You got to get your heart back. Your heart was never connected to the outcome. Your heart was just connected to the obedience. You got to get your heart back. You know why you got to get your heart back? So you don't miss harvest when it comes. You got to get your heart back. Your heart is gonna be the sign that lets you know that harvest is on the way. I hear God saying it's gonna hit you in your chest before it shows up in your hand. It's gonna hit you in your chest before it shows up in your house. It's gonna hit you in your chest before it shows up at the office. It's gonna hit you in your chest.

22:32 God says it's gonna drop in your spirit when harvest is on the way. It'll drop in your heart when harvest is on the way. Here. Okay. I was so into that too. I don't blame you for that. I was so into that too. If it hit you in your chest, I would make sure that you got some kind of harvest on the way.

23:02 Paul wants to make sure that this church in Galatia, that they managed to do the hard task of keeping their heart while sowing. So when you realize that you're growing weary, it's not a circumstance issue, it's a heart issue. there's something in my heart that is under attack. And I got to protect my heart in seasons of weariness. You see, because weariness, it dulls your senses.

23:46 And I know this because we miss things when we're weary. We don't hear properly when we're weary. We don't know what to do when we're weary. So wouldn't it be just like the enemy to not necessarily put you in a fight that is obvious. He just makes you weary of the fight you're already in.

24:11 Convinces you that there is no harvest connected to the battle you're in. so when we find Moses in numbers 20 it is no surprise that he is frustrated his sister has died and the Hebrew children are complaining again And they think that the same God who parted the Red Sea, the same God who delivered them from the oppression of the Egyptians, would bring them into the wilderness and let them die. He's allowed manna to come from heaven. He's proven himself over and over and over again. And Moses is tired from leading a people who just cannot get with the program. and here they go complaining again his sister has died he's in the wilderness with these ungrateful people and they're worried about dying of thirst and the Lord gives him specific instructions the Lord says to him to take your rod and and speak to the rod.

25:36 Take your rod. This is the same rod that parted the Red Sea. This is the same rod that in chapters earlier, he struck the rock and water came out of the rock. He says, I want you to take that same rod, but this time I don't want you to strike the rock. I want you to speak to the rock. This is how we know Moses was weary. because he gets to the rock and he strikes the rock.

26:04 Wait a minute. That's not what God said to do. But when you're weary, you just do what's worked before and you miss out on what God is saying to do now. When you're weary, you think the same thing that works back then ought to work right now. You seek God, but you don't actually do what God said Because you think that I'll use the same strategy from back then for now When you're weary, you can have the right strategy at the wrong time. And the right strategy at the wrong time is still the wrong strategy. It was right then, but it's wrong for now.

26:52 What works for one kid don't work for the other kid. Right strategy, wrong kid. Right strategy, wrong team. right strategy wrong moment it's not that you don't have the right strategy you're just standing in the wrong moment for that strategy so you have to be willing to ask God what is the strategy for this moment and to not be so weary that when you're backed in a corner you pull from what you know because when you're weary you go for what you know not for what you're told and when you go for what you know and not for what you told you miss God because you're trying to do what's already been done and God's trying to show you the diversity he has and his ability to provide the diversity he has and his ability to show up you see my God is not a God that has to follow the same pattern. What he did for you, he don't have to do for me.

27:52 Me personally, nobody asked, but I'll tell you, I think that David's greatest strength was knowing which weapon to use when. We talk about David using the slingshot, and that was very powerful. we don't see David using the slingshot throughout the book because he had enough wisdom to recognize that this was the right strategy for that but this battle may require a different strategy and some battles when he went to fight Goliath he said Saul I can't wear your armor I got to wear what's mine but then we see him when he is more militarized and king we see him armoring up because different battles require different weapons so when David begins to talk about his success and his confidence his confidence is not in the slingshot he does not say that I have this slingshot that I used on a lion and I have this slingshot that I used on a bear he says the Lord the same Lord who delivered me see the Lord gave him the strategy for how to take care of the lion and how to take care of the bear and he believed that the same God would give him strategy for how to take care of Goliath and he believed that the same God would give him strategy for every battle that he was in even if he did not use the same method that he used before. If I was really preaching, I would take a minute and talk to somebody about you grieving the fact that you don't have a slingshot when you're not even in a slingshot battle.

29:52 You want a slingshot because the slingshot worked last time. But God says, for this battle, I don't need a slingshot. For this battle, all I need is a praise. Sometimes I win by slingshot. Sometimes I win by praise. Sometimes I pull from my sword. Sometimes I pull from my worship. But one thing I'm going to do is win. Because the same Lord that delivered me then is going to deliver me now. if I had about five more seconds I would take a praise break real quick and I would go back in time and tell you about the many ways that God took care of me using all kinds of different strategies sometimes he used a friend and sometimes it was just me in my prayer closet and sometimes he used the Instagram post and sometimes he used an old hymn but let me tell you every time he used something I came out Oh, if I had about five people in here.

31:02 Who didn't mind? He didn't use the same thing. Calm down. Calm down. I will be honest. I feel a little rowdy.

31:28 I will be honest. I feel a little rowdy. Because I've been limiting God to one weapon. And that's why I've been weary. Because I thought if he was going to do it, he had to do it a certain way. But I realized that God, Lord, I done broke my shoe. I realize that God doesn't need to do what he did yesterday in this present moment. Mm-hmm.

32:01 So what you must understand, is that God can do it in any number of ways. So my trust is not in the method. God, I don't care if you cure me by laying hands or you put the cure in the doctor's hands. All I know is that the Lord is going to deliver my body.

32:30 I don't know who that is for. But don't you believe that because it didn't happen at the altar, that it won't happen at all. God says, I'll bring you to the altar so your faith can get up for when you walk in the doctor. I feel a little rowdy. Yeah, some people. some people get instant deliverance right here at the altar and then some people walk away and they say because he didn't do it for me the way he did it for them he's not going to do it for me at all but I came here to tell you that when the Lord has declared that you will be healed and when the Lord has declared that you will be whole he may not use the same method he used for your neighbor but he is not a man that he shall lie that that I said I will do says God I will perform it So don't get discouraged by the method he used for me just because that method ain't in your life.

33:52 My God is vast enough and wide enough to come up with a new strategy for the thing you're facing. You're weary because you're looking for yesterday's solution or your neighbor's solution. But God says, don't limit me. Don't limit me.

34:16 If you went up to the man in Matthew 9 and says, well, how does Jesus heal the blind? He'd tell you what, he just speaks the word. And that's how he heals the blind. But then if you hopped over into Matthew 20 And ask those blind men, how does he heal the blind? They'll say, well, he touches your eyes, and that's how you heal. Well, the man in John will say, excuse me, excuse me, excuse me. That's not what he did for me. You know how he healed mine? He took mud and spit and rubbed it together. And then if you went over to Mark 8 and you ask that man, wait a minute. How'd he heal you?

35:00 The man at Mark 8 was saying He touched me once And it didn't work But he touched me again And I started seeing men Everybody healed different methods. Everybody healed a different path. Okay. Alright. Okay. All right.

35:40 All right. Lord, I do feel a little rowdy. If you're visiting for the first time, welcome to the Potter's House. we've been rowdy for about 30 years we dress up just to make y'all look comfortable but when it's time to go we've been going to war with the devil for 30 years and guess what we got another 30 in us Okay. All right. All right, listen. Listen. Okay, listen. Listen.

38:07 So, this is what we have to do. What we must learn to do is to recognize that God uses different weapons for different moments. And we have to ask God, what weapon do you need for this moment? I do not want to assume that the same thing that worked then is going to work now. what do you want to use now? David recognizes that different moments require different weapons. So when they say he was a man after God's own heart, he was constantly seeking the heart of God for how to show up in any given moment. And I'll be honest with you, I've been looking for a pattern.

39:23 I've been asking God for predictability. And because he has not given me predictability, I have grown weary. And the Lord told me that I cannot afford to allow my weariness to grow in this season. because my heart needs to be sensitive enough to discern not just which weapon to use, but to understand exactly what it is I am standing in. Because as much as David understood which battle and which weapon to use when, David also was able to discern what was a battle and what wasn't. Okay.

40:18 So when David faces off with Goliath, he's in a battle. And he uses his slingshot. And he has a strategy that can bring immediate resolve. He's in a battle. But when he's dealing with Saul, he's not in a battle. When he's dealing with Saul, he's under siege. and what you need when you're in a battle versus what you need when you're under siege is two different things Okay, I'll give you an example. When my kids are going through something at school, and I have to send a little email.

41:04 Oh, it's some parents in here. If I have to break out that laptop, see, because some emails I can't send on my phone, I need to be at my laptop for the email that I'm going to send. We in a battle. You see my name come across your screen? We in a battle. But when I notice that they're dealing with anxiety and depression, something that an email cannot fix, I realize that their identity is under siege, that the enemy is surrounding them and he's trying to take territory. And I can't send an email for that. But what I can do when I am under siege is I can bombard heaven on behalf of my children because I realize that this is not a battle. This is a war over my child and over my seed. And what you use in a battle is different than what you use when you're under siege.

42:00 Being under siege requires different weapons. It doesn't just require power. It requires patience. when you're under siege you just can't do and say anything because you have to have an intentional strategy oh god a battle in many ways is a bit easier to confront because it's not as long and it doesn't require as much from you and you can use all of your power. But the worst thing we can do is use a battle strategy when we're under siege. Oh God, help me to say it real good. I need calculation. I need restraint. I need a plan. I need a strategy. I need wisdom from God. I just can't throw all of my power at this because if I throw, see, I could shut it down. See, there are some things you go through where you know that in your own power you could shut it down but you recognize that if I shut it down this is what David knew if I shut this down with Saul I will be thwarting God's plan I'll be standing in the way of God's process sometimes God doesn't need you to use all of your power God needs you to limit your power so that his power can show up the question is not can you throw all your power at it the question is can you hold your power when you think your power could fix it when you think your power could make a difference can you hold the power and let God work it out hold the position God hasn't released me to make a move yet I'm under siege but there's a strategy connected to this there's weapons formed against me but I know the weapons won't prosper and I could go to war with the weapon or I could be still in the middle of the battle like Jehoshaphat and just praise God in the middle of it all because when you're under siege you don't just go war War for war.

44:00 So you can't rely on what you know works. You got to seek and you got to trust God for something different. When God doesn't release you to do what you know to do, it's not because God is trying to limit your power. It's because he's trying to show you how to really use it. Oh, I wish I could say it. I'll tell you this God won't allow you to use your power for something that his power is assigned to I

44:41 Feel like that was good It's not that your power couldn't fix it. You know how you be looking at things, and you be saying to yourself, I could really fix this, and you. I could button you right on up, and it would forever be dealt with. But in the process, I would be intervening with what God wants to do long term. Just because God hasn't released you to use your power, it doesn't mean that your power is not efficient. It means your power is reserved for what the real battle is. If God lets you use your power on everything you could use your power on, you wouldn't have any power left for the battles that are actually assigned to your name. I hear God saying, let me handle this. So when we find Paul in the text, it seems like Paul is under siege because they're talking about him. And they're talking about him in a way that we don't often view Paul.

45:51 When I think of Paul, I think about who he was before his conversion. that he was looking for those who believed in Jesus so that he could arrest them and take them back to Jerusalem and that he would kill them and murder them. When I envision Paul, I think of him as being strong and resilient and eloquent and powerful. But his response to the church of Corinth gives us insight that there are some rumors about who he is and how he shows up that are in conflict with the way that I've seen him. They're saying that he's feeble, that he's physically weak, that his speech is not eloquent at all, because they're trying to infiltrate the work that he's done. And I found it interesting that of all the things that Paul could have done in this moment, that he takes the time to respond to those who are talking about the way that he's showing up.

46:52 Because most of the time we see Paul just moving forward. But he uses this as a teaching moment for the overall church of Corinth. Because he's trying to teach them about what it means to be under siege and how we respond. because though he's not eloquent in speech and he doesn't have the physical strength his battle strategy is not in what is visible to them. Lord help me say it real good. Yeah, they are expecting for him to show up a certain way. Oh, this is it, this is it. And because he's not showing up in that way, they are questioning his effectiveness. Yeah. Because they have an expectation for what power should look like. And for what victory should look like.

47:46 And for what strength should look like. But because he doesn't look like it, they're talking about him. The same way they talk about you, the same way we talk about them. when power doesn't look like what we thought it should look like, when someone's doing the opposite of what we think they should do in a moment, they're talking about Paul in that same way. And Paul lets them know that for this particular battle, it requires a different weapon. Oh, Lord, help me say it real good. When I was studying, I realized that they're talking about Paul and it seems like Paul's under siege. But in reality, Paul wasn't under siege. As a matter of fact, what he was facing with the people was actually a battle because it could be rectified very easily.

48:42 Paul was actually the one advancing the kingdom in a way that they didn't expect. I'm going to figure out how to say this. And when I say it, we're going to shout and we're going to go home. it looks like Paul is under siege but he's actually the one who is imposing a threat the threat is just not in the direction that they anticipate I'm gonna keep saying it until I get it right they're worried about the way he's showing up for the church of Corinth they don't realize that he's actually showing up in strategy because he's not looking to just take territory he's looking to establish the kingdom of heaven. He's looking to dismantle systems and disrupt mentalities. Oh, I wish I could say that real good. The Greco-Roman world at that time was so used to military coming in and being bold and taking territory and looking a certain way that when Paul says he's going to take territory and he doesn't come in with the same force, they say he's not effective because if you're going to win, you have to win a certain way. But they don't know that this time is different, that how I'm going to win this time is going to be different than what you have seen in the past, I'm going to use a weapon that you're not even familiar with.

50:00 Oh, it's coming. I feel my Holy Ghost coming. Sometimes God will give you a weapon that is unfamiliar to the context in which you must use it. sometimes God gives you a weapon that doesn't make sense to anybody but you and him he tells you to take a path that is completely different than what you've done in the past or what other people expect from you and they start talking about you because it seems like you've lost your mind and they start talking about you because they think there's no way that you can run that battle for that long and do it that way. You got to show up a certain way, but they don't realize that God has given you strategy that allows you to show up feeble, that allows you to show up without the degree, that allows you to show up without the partner, that allows you to show up without the investors. God's given me a strategy. It may not be familiar to what you're used to, but God's given me a strategy that is different than what you're used to. What I love about this text is that Paul does not deny that he walks in the flesh.

51:17 See, and I know that brush up against you a little bit. Because all we want to do, we walk in the Spirit, we walk in the Spirit. When we do, there is a place and a time for that. He also recognizes that he is walking out in the Spirit in his body. And there are moments when his body is weak.

51:40 Where he does not have strength. So he does not say to them that I'm going to try and be strong. got a time when I'm weak. He says to the church of Corinth, I need you to know there will be moments where your physical body does not allow you to show up in the way that other people expect. But do not be discouraged about how you walk. Focus on how you war. because if you are right you can sit down in a chair when your back hurts I seen Bishop Jakes do it with his back out after a back surgery because he realized that in the flesh my body was weak but in the spirit my body was strong that means I don't have to feel it in my body to go to war with the enemy you see I jump around this stage now but in 30 years I may not be able to jump around this stage but the anointing is not in the jumping the anointing is what happens in the spirit that means if I can't jump around and all I can do is sit here and say Heavenly Father I call upon your name because there is no other name greater in all of the earth and I make a demand on all of heaven's resources that you would release supernatural power supernatural authority over my house.

53:05 I bleed the blood of Jesus over everything concerning me. I rebuke you devil in every plot and plan of the enemy. I demand right now that every demon in my house be scattered in the name of Jesus. I decree and declare right now no weapon formed against my... When my body is weak, my spirit is weak. Don't let that back pain take your praise. Don't let that knee pain take your praise. If you got to praise him from your chair. We war! We war!

54:03 I don't always feel it in my body, but I'm not fighting for my body. I see you with your babies, and I know you warred for them babies, and you went through custody cases for them babies, And I see God delivered you because you know how to war in the spirit. So you got to understand what Paul understands that there are moments where he showed up in strength. where he took incredible physical endurance in order to answer the call.

55:07 And then there were moments where his body was feeble. He says it himself, that his presence was weak and his speech wasn't always great. But Paul knew what was in him. Even when it seemed like his body didn't reflect what was in him.

55:29 You got to know what's in you. because these bodies, they're fading away. But every day that inner man is being strengthened and made new.

57:08 And he's using a different kind of weapon for this season. And I believe that he took this moment to educate the church in Corinth because the church in Corinth needed to understand as a part of their process of discipleship that when we use weapons, the weapons will be different depending on the times.

57:40 And our sensitivity and our insistence on seeking God will give us strategy on what weapons to use when. And I believe that God gave me this message because we are living in different times. This time is different. This time, this era that we live in is different. And it requires different weapons from us. Not just the weapons we know. Not just the weapons we respect. But sometimes weapons that seem unfamiliar to us. And if we do not abandon our need to use weapons that we know and to have presentations we understand, we may miss out on what God has for us. Paul says, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty in God.

58:55 See, he uses this ancient war methodology when he talks about the strongholds, these fortified arguments, fortified cities. He says that the weapons that we use are meant to infiltrate things that have been fortified. So while they're talking about Paul, Paul is changing minds. he didn't just bring them into captivity and make them slaves he wanted real transformation and for real transformation it required a different strategy my word for you is that some victories come from discerning what the moment requires and then having the ability to trust God to do it differently. We need discernment, not for the sake of just knowing, but for the sake of doing. Whether you are like Paul and you have been called into foreign territories, called into industries, communities, and cities where God is using you to erect systems and programs to bring about change, I need you to understand, like Paul had to understand, that you may not use the methods that worked for previous successful programs or generations.

1:00:27 God may give you something different. I can tell you on a personal level that there's also an opportunity for us to examine within ourselves where we have mentalities and have accepted identities that the Lord wants to change. that when we talk about living by the Spirit, that there is a possibility that the stronghold that you're supposed to bring down is not in the community, is sleeping with you at night. that it's in your own mind. that it's in your own perception and perspective of how things need to be Paul was not under siege he was doing the sieging and no one understood that but him this is what we are called to do in this season we are not called to cower down and wait while we are under siege we are called to ask the Lord what is it that you want me to take control of what stronghold am I supposed to be bringing down what arguments do I need to cast down whether they are the arguments of the culture or the arguments within me and then Lord give me a weapon that is not carnal you know what's crazy I'm saying this we're closing you can stand with me The crazy thing about the weapon that Paul ends up using that is mighty in God is that sometimes it is a weapon that could be perceived as carnal.

1:02:16 But because he has submitted it to God and God has given him the anointing to use that weapon, it is mighty in God. Oh, I wish I could say that real good. your weapon without God's anointing may not be mighty that's why you got to make sure whatever weapon you reach for is mighty in God to pull it down because sometimes we have mighty weapons but they're not mighty in God they're mighty and carnal and I want to use only the weapon that is mighty in God you're here in this room and I want to pray with you Because you're in a fight. And when I was speaking about weariness, it stood out to you because you've been fearing that you're losing heart.

1:03:25 because you've been doing the same good thing over and over again, and you've experienced the same disappointment. I want to pray with you. You don't have to come down to the altar. You can stay where you are. You can come. It's whatever you want to do, whatever feels the most honest to you. Maybe you're in this room and you're trying to figure out how to not throw all of your power at something that God has not authorized you to tackle. There are some things that God says, I want to handle that on my own. I want to take care of that. And you were grieving the loss of control.

1:04:23 and being forced to trust God was something that means so much to you. I want to pray with you too. You're in this room. And nobody understands the weapon that God has called you to use but you.

1:04:45 And it doesn't make sense to anybody else. And they don't even think it'll be effective. And you needed this reminder. that God trusts you with heaven's agenda even before it has touched the earth.

1:05:06 Lastly, I want to pray for those of you who are in this room and you can't show up in your body the way you used to. Whether it's temporary or a new normal, you have equated strength with your physical presence and discounted what God can do in your current condition. I pray that something in this moment has reminded you that what really counts is not how you walk, it's how you war. And how you war don't have anything to do with how you walk when you're submitted to God. If you're here and you don't know Jesus, I'm telling you, thanks to Jesus, one, he put to death everything that was trying to put me to death.

1:06:04 All of my sin, all of my fear, all of my inadequacy, he nailed it to the cross and put it to death. And when he was raised up free and victorious, I was raised up too. This power that I have doesn't belong to me. That's the same resurrecting power that was on the cross 2,000 years ago. And we celebrated him coming out of that tomb. I want to invite you to know Jesus. perhaps to know him again in a deeper, more intimate way. I want to pray with you. And as a sign of surrender, I'm just going to ask that you throw your hands up like you're not holding on to your weapons.

1:06:47 You're only going to take what God gives you, only going to use what God gives you. Heavenly Father, I said what you told me to say. here are your sons and daughters navigating a world that often seems bigger than them but believing that with you that greater is he that is in them than he that is in the world father you knew that we would have trials and tribulations in this world but you also knew that your son would overcome them all lord i'm asking right now that you would meet these your sons and daughters in the place of their weariness, in the place where they've been doing good but feeling discouraged, where they're losing heart. And God, I pray right now that you would begin to have an intimate encounter with their heart, that your spirit would begin to comfort them, to wipe their tears and acknowledge their pain. God, that your spirit would breathe on them as only you can do. And God, as your spirit breathes on them, I speak restoration over them in the name of Jesus. That where they have been disappointed, where man has disappointed them, where experience and circumstances have disappointed them, God, I ask that you would strengthen them, God. That you would allow their heart to return to them. That they would begin to become sensitive again to the millions of ways that you can work things out. God, I thank you right now that you would begin to open their hearts and their minds to the limitless possibilities for how you can show up in their world. And I plead the blood of Jesus over them right now. And I rebuke the enemy that would dare to limit you in their minds. I rebuke the enemy right now that would dare to break trust with you. God, we surrender. This is our sign of...