In this message, we’re reminded to boldly declare: “Don’t count me out.” People may overlook you, underestimate your potential, or assume you don’t have what it takes—but God counts on what others counted out.

The backdrop of this sermon begins with Jesus grieving the death of His cousin, John the Baptist. Even Jesus experienced emotional overwhelm. Instead of pushing through while drained, He withdrew to be alone with the Father. This teaches us a vital lesson: when you are emotionally shaken, step away, sit still, and process with God. Moving out of season can cost more than you expect. Alignment requires quiet.

Scripture Focus: John 6:1–14

In the feeding of the 5,000, the disciples overlook a young boy with a small lunch. He doesn’t look like a solution—just like many of us who have been dismissed because we didn’t “look the part.” Yet Jesus calls the one everyone else counted out.

Key Illustration:
Picture the boy holding a tiny basket of bread and fish—his entire lunch. Jesus is standing nearby with a much larger basket on His back, saying, “If you trust Me, I’ll make an exchange. Give Me what you have, and I’ll give you what I’m carrying. But you won’t see what I have until you trust Me first.”

Sometimes God hides what He’s carrying because seeing it would make faith too easy. Trust must come before sight. When we stretch out what’s in our hands, He releases what only He can provide.

The boy was close enough for Jesus to make a handoff. Proximity matters. Stay close enough to God that He can place in your hands what He has prepared for your next season.

When the boy surrendered his lunch, Jesus multiplied it—not just for the crowd, but for the boy himself. God used the one who stood in the background… the one dismissed… the one overlooked.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Don’t count yourself out just because others did. God specializes in using overlooked people.
• Make space to process emotional overwhelm. Even Jesus stepped away to gather Himself.
• Trust before you see. God often hides the blessing until after your obedience.
• Your “little” becomes “much” in God’s hands.
• Stay close enough for the handoff. Proximity positions you for divine exchange.
• You belong in the room—even when others make you feel like you don’t.

God is getting ready to use what you thought disqualified you. The miracle did not start in the hands of Jesus—it started in the hands of the boy who dared to believe, “Don’t count me out.”

Scripture: 2 Kings 13:20–21

Elisha dies and is buried, but even in death the anointing on his life remains active. As another man is being buried, his body touches Elisha’s bones—and he comes back to life. This miraculous moment shows that even what looks dead can still carry power, and what seems buried can still breathe again.

Introduction: Buried but Still Breathing

Many of us have felt buried under pressure, pain, disappointment, guilt, or delay—running on fumes, barely having a pulse. But God says you’re not dead. You may feel buried, but you are planted. Your purpose may be suffocating under weight, yet God is about to show you proof of life.

Note: When a seed looks like it’s dying, it’s actually developing. Burial is God’s strategy for growth.

I. When God Hides You to Heal You

A. Burial Seasons = Germination

What we call “buried,” Heaven calls “germinating.” God uses hidden seasons to develop what He planted.

B. Elisha’s Bones Still Worked Miracles

Even underground, the anointing on Elisha remained active. Burial doesn’t cancel purpose.

C. God Buries the Anointed to Protect It

Some things must mature in the dark to avoid contamination.

Biblical Examples:

• Joseph was buried alive in a pit before reaching the palace.
• Jonah was buried alive in the fish before fulfilling his assignment.
• Jesus was buried alive on purpose—His Spirit descended before His body ascended.

II. The Power of Contact: Touch What Still Carries the Oil

A. Reconnect with What’s Anointed

It’s time to touch prayer, holiness, mentors, mantles, and memories that still carry the oil.

B. Evaluate Your Connections

What are you in contact with? Does it carry oil—or does it need oil? Like the foolish virgins, proximity without power won’t sustain you.

III. The Purpose of the Dirt

A. Natural Dirt

If you learn to grow from the dirt thrown on your name, you will rise faster.

B. Spiritual Dirt

The dirt wasn’t meant to kill you—God used it to cover you until you were ready. You’re not being buried to die, but to develop.

Conclusion: Prophetic Charge — “Get Up and Live”

God says the Church has a pulse but has been buried:

1. Politics instead of prayer
2. Programs instead of presence
3. Image instead of intimacy

You may feel buried alive, but when you touch what’s anointed, you will stand up. You are not dead—just planted. God is raising you from beneath the weight. What God plants, He always plans to resurrect.

Declare to someone: “Get up and live!”
The dirt thrown on your name is becoming the soil for your purpose.

Scripture: 2 Kings 22:13–14

Main Thought:

To be locked in means to be spiritually secure and emotionally stable in who God says you are. It’s a mindset that values obedience over validation, clarity over visibility, and purpose over popularity. When you’re locked in, you move when God says move, and you stand still when He says stand still.

Key Character: Huldah the Prophetess

Huldah isn’t often mentioned in Scripture, but her influence was powerful. Living during the reign of King Josiah—a time when God’s Word had been buried under idolatry—she became the voice of revival in a spiritually dark nation.

• She didn’t seek attention; she sought accuracy.
• She wasn’t famous, but she was faithful.
• When the King needed clarity, he didn’t go to Jeremiah or Zephaniah—he sent his men to Huldah, because she had a reputation for revelation.

Her Hebrew name means weasel, a small but alert and focused creature. Like her namesake, she moved with precision and purpose. Her life teaches us that identity precedes assignment—you must know who you are before you can fulfill what God called you to do.

Three Keys to Staying Locked In

I. Concentration

Huldah was laser-focused in a culture filled with rebellion and distraction.

• She tuned out the noise and tuned into God.
• She guarded her focus because she knew distraction is the enemy of direction.
   Locked-in people protect their focus and prioritize revelation over recognition.

II. Conviction

When the King’s messengers arrived, Huldah didn’t water down God’s message—she spoke truth exactly as God gave it.

• She didn’t adjust her word to fit the audience.
• Truth doesn’t bend, even when the audience wears a crown.
   Locked-in people don’t need convincing when they’re already convicted.

Note: Speak truth even when it’s uncomfortable—obedience is not optional when you’re on divine assignment.

III. Consistency

Though her story is brief, her impact was lasting.

• She was steadfast in her walk, stable in her word, and secure in her worth.
• Pressure didn’t move her—she was anchored by her purpose.
   Locked-in people aren’t seasonal; they are steadfast.

Conclusion:
When you’re locked into the right place, you don’t need to escape—you just need to endure.

• Stop trying to leave the room God called you to.
• You don’t have to leave to be effective.
• Huldah never entered the palace, yet her prophecy shook it.
• She never stood before the throne, yet her words redirected it.
• Her obedience broke through walls she never physically walked through.

Final Word from God:

Takeaway for Listeners:

Being locked in means being anchored in obedience. When you know who you are and whose you are, you won’t need applause to keep going—you’ll have divine assignment to keep you steady.

"Dealing with the Rejection of Your Selection"

60-28th Pastor Anniversary!

Scripture: II Samuel 2:4

In “A Survivor’s Victory,” Bishop Walker reminds us that God honors both our scars and our strength. This message celebrates the longevity, resilience, and divine purpose that come from surviving the battles of life. Every survivor—whether of sickness, struggle, loss, or hardship—stands as living proof of God’s faithfulness.

God doesn’t just deliver us; He keeps us. Isaiah 46:4 assures us that the same God who made us will carry and sustain us through every season. Our scars tell a story—evidence that His grace is not just a momentary victory, but a continuous movement of strength, healing, and peace.

Before diving into the difference between a “Victory” and a “Survivor’s Victory,” Bishop Walker pauses to celebrate all who have made it through. Whether you survived a diagnosis, depression, financial struggle, or heartbreak—today, we celebrate YOU.

Main Points

I. A Regular Victory Ends — But a Survivor’s Victory Continues

• A regular victory is a moment, but a Survivor’s Victory is a movement.
• Survivors live on a different level of faith, pressing through every follow-up, every scan, every anxious moment with perseverance.
• You don’t just celebrate what’s gone—you celebrate what remains.
    Declaration: “I’m still here!”

II. A Regular Victory is about an Event — A Survivor’s Victory is about the Evidence

• Deliverance is one moment, but endurance leaves evidence.
• Every scar, every clear report, every new day is proof of healing.
• Philippians 1:6 reminds us that the God who began a good work in us will continue it until completion.
• True healing isn’t just the absence of sickness—it’s the presence of peace.
    Reminder: Faith, follow-ups, and favor keep you showing up to live.

III. A Regular Victory Ends with the Battle — A Survivor’s Victory Begins with Belief

• After the battle is over, your faith shifts from “God healed me” to “God is keeping me.”
• Philippians 4:7 promises that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.
• Faith isn’t only for the fight—it’s for the follow-ups.

IV. A Regular Victory is Temporary — A Survivor’s Victory is Transformational

• Regular victory changes your situation, but a Survivor’s Victory changes your perspective.
• Survivors live differently: they love harder, live fuller, forgive faster, and praise louder.
    Truth: Your survival becomes your sermon.

 A Survivor’s Declaration

Speak this over your life:

• I am more than a conqueror.
• I fought through it. I prayed through it. I survived it.
• I believe in total healing—body, mind, and soul.
• I am living A Survivor’s Victory.

 Takeaway for Listeners

Every scar tells a story, every storm leaves a testimony. You are not just a victor—you are a survivor, sustained by a God who carries you even when you can’t carry yourself. Let your life speak loudly: God still heals, keeps, and transforms.

Sometimes the resources we need don’t come from the places we expect. When God gives you the vision, He’s already prepared the provision—it just might arrive from unexpected people, places, and plans.

In this message, “Help From Unexpected Places,” Bishop reminds us that divine help isn’t always familiar. Solomon’s ability to build the temple of God came not only from heavenly wisdom but also from earthly workers sent by Hiram, the king of Tyre. God used a foreign king—an outsider—to supply the materials, manpower, and skill needed to fulfill a spiritual mission.

The backstory begins with King David. When David ascended to the throne, Hiram recognized the favor on his life and sent resources—cedarwood, masons, and carpenters—to help build David’s house (2 Samuel 5:11–12). Years later, that same favor flowed to David’s son Solomon. Because Hiram had honored David, he extended help again—this time to build God’s house.

Key Insight: Favor will finance your vision.
Before help builds the ministry, it first builds the man. God connects people to you not because of what you have, but because of what He has placed on you.

Main Points

I. Unfamiliar People – 1 Kings 5:1

• God will often use strangers to strengthen saints.
• Those too familiar with you may fail to recognize the anointing you carry.
• Hiram was an outsider who saw what others didn’t—God’s favor on Solomon’s life.
• Notes:
  1. Favor doesn’t have to be familiar.
  2. Don’t reject your designer help because it doesn’t wear your label.
  3. Your favor may follow your lineage—Hiram blessed Solomon because he loved David.
• Takeaway: God can send help through people who don’t look, sound, or worship like you.

II. Unfamiliar Places – 1 Kings 5:6

• Tyre was a wealthy, coastal trading city—a marketplace powerhouse.
• Everything Solomon needed for this next level came from one place outside his borders.
• Sometimes your blessing is a marketplace connection, not a ministry one.
• God can use secular systems to supply spiritual assignments.

Declaration: “It’s coming from out there!”

III. Unfamiliar Plans – 2 Chronicles 2:13–14

• Hiram didn’t just send materials—he sent people with wisdom, craftsmanship, and understanding.
• Huram (also called Hiram) was a hybrid helper: half Israelite, half Tyrian—skilled in metalwork, design, and architecture.
• Some people are divinely designed for your breakthrough—they carry a mix of experiences perfectly suited for your need.
• Solomon had the vision, but Hiram had the hands.

Truth: When God gives you the plan, He’s already prepared the people.

Conclusion

David’s help looked like warriors, but Solomon’s help looked like workers.
Whether it’s a familiar face or a foreign friend, don’t limit how God can send help your way.

3 Key Reminders:

1. Expect unfamiliar people
2. Expect unfamiliar places
3. Expect unfamiliar plans

God’s next move in your life may come from the least likely direction—so keep your heart open, your faith ready, and your hands prepared to receive help from unexpected places.

The Oil Still Flows!

Scriptures: Psalm 133:1-3

This Sunday, Bishop reminded us that sometimes God shifts the message to meet us exactly where we are. What began as “Reserved Seating” became a powerful word titled, “You Know You’re Moving When…” — a message about growth, faith under pressure, and trusting God through the middle of the process.

Bishop began by reminding us that Jesus went into the wilderness to pray, and we must learn to do the same. Growth happens in solitude. “You’ve got to be your own overcomer,” he said. “You’ve got to handle your own stuff and learn how to counteract the trials and tribulations that come your way.”

The foundation of the message came from Psalm 46:1 —

When we lean on God, we find stability even when everything around us feels unstable. Bishop declared, “He promised He’d never leave me nor forsake me. Though horses rise up against me, in Him will I be confident. God is the joy of my life!”

You know you’re moving when the enemy gets upset because you’re finally in a good place — smiling, growing, and making God proud. But this time, you’re prepared: prayed up, faith-filled, and determined to give God exactly what He wants.

Bishop shared that the Lord is saying,

The message took us to the question,

Everything we have to lean on is the Word of God. Even when it doesn’t look like God is moving, He’s still doing exactly what He said He would do. Our problem, Bishop said, is that we have preconceived notions of what our “next” should look like.

When you pray for change and things start to crumble, that’s not failure — that’s formation. “It’s working,” Bishop said, “and it’s working on me.”
If you’re not feeling pressure, God may not be stretching you yet.

When God says, “It ends well,” that’s a sign that something difficult is coming in the middle. But don’t focus on the middle — focus on the promise. Tell yourself, “I’m going to trust God for how it ends.”

Hold on to what God has promised you. Don’t let the enemy make you miss the finale.

Bishop encouraged us to pray:

Even in hard seasons, God is counting on us to keep showing up — to finish strong and trust Him for the finished work of the Cross. It’s already done!

If you can just push past this little hump, you’ll see clearer on the other side. God has not forgotten you.

So today, declare:

• Scripture: Psalm 46:1
• Key Points:
  • You know you’re moving when pressure increases — that’s proof of progress.
  • God’s promise still stands, even when the process feels uncomfortable.
  • Don’t focus on the middle; focus on how it ends — because it ends well!
  • Be your own overcomer and pray like Jesus did in the wilderness.
  • Trust God’s voice — even when the direction shifts.
• Declaration: “I will trust God for the finished work!”

This message challenges believers to protect the anointing, faith, and victory that they’ve fought for. Using the life of Job as an example, we see that the closer we press toward God, the greater the resistance we face—but those same trials refine our faith and strengthen our walk. The enemy’s agenda is clear: he wants your worship, your witness, and your will. But when you realize what it cost you to get where you are, you’ll declare, “Because it cost me everything, I can’t let it go for nothing.”

Main Points & Notes for Listeners

I. Guard Your Faith

📖 Job 1:20 — “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.”

• Job lost everything but refused to lose his faith.
• His first response wasn’t complaint—it was worship.
• “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
• Guard your faith with worship, not with words.
• When life breaks everything else, let your convictions remain unshaken.

🩸 Takeaway: Because you’ve walked through fire, don’t let the enemy steal the faith you forged there.

II. Silence the Noise

• Job’s wife said, “Curse God and die.”
• His friends accused him of hidden sin.
• Yet Job chose silence and steadfastness over the noise.

🔇 Protect the inner voice of God within you from the outer noise that man throws at you.
When confusion, criticism, or comparison come, remember: peace speaks softer than pain, but it speaks truth.

🩸 Takeaway: The voice that called you is greater than the noise that surrounds you.

III. Don’t Focus on Temporary Loss

• Job’s grief pointed to glory—his loss was not the end but a setup for restoration.
• As the song says: “Sometimes you have to lose to win again.”
• What you lost refined you; what you survived redefined you.

🔥 Lesson 1: Don’t forfeit what fire has forged—the fire didn’t pacify you; it purified you.
💧 Lesson 2: Don’t release what loss has refined—you are better because of it.

🩸 Takeaway: Everything you went through produced something holy in you—protect it with your life.

IV. The Anointing

• The anointing is what kept you when offers fell, lifted you when sin tried to bury you, and whispered life when death called your name.
• You didn’t get this anointing on clearance—you paid for it, and you’re still paying for it.
• It’s not negotiable or transferable; it’s Heaven-recognized, Hell-feared, and Earth-needed.

👊 Tell your neighbor:
 “Protect it in the Fire, the Fight, and the Famine—because it cost too much to let it go.”

Final Reflection

Romans 12:1 reminds us to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice.” That means offering your entire self to God—even when it costs you everything.
Job protected his integrity even when all was stripped away. Likewise, we must guard what God birthed through our pain.

🩸 If it cost you your life, protect it with your life.
You fought for this faith. You bled for this breakthrough.
Now stand firm, and protect what you paid for.

This sermon focuses on the power of conviction and what it means to be fully persuaded that you are walking in God’s will. Drawing from Ruth’s decision to stay with Naomi despite famine, death, and uncertainty, the message highlights how conviction—not convenience—ushers us into God’s promises and destiny.

The preacher begins with a personal story: a conversation with siblings who also pastor, reflecting on the joys and struggles of ministry. The Spirit impressed the word “convinced” early one morning, reminding us that consistency flows from conviction. Romans 4:20-21 shows us Abraham’s faith—he was fully persuaded that God would perform what He promised. The world today promotes self-centered living—“I’m protecting my peace,” “I’m living my best life”—but what about the promises we made to God? Believers must remain persuaded that holiness is still right and non-negotiable.

Ruth’s story embodies this truth. Though she had every reason to return to her past life, gods, and culture, she chose conviction. She declared: “Your people shall be my people, your God shall be my God.” That decision led her into destiny—the lineage of Christ.

Key Points

I. Conviction Over Comfort

• Orpah chose comfort—returning to what was familiar.
• Ruth chose conviction—forsaking idols and choosing the living God.
• When you’re convinced, you don’t choose what’s easy; you choose what’s eternal.

II. Clinging, Not Quitting (Ruth 1:14)

• Orpah kissed Naomi and returned, but Ruth clung to her.
• Orpah represents those who serve a season; Ruth represents those who endure.
• It takes faith to cling when your future is uncertain. God is seeking clingers, not quitters.

III. The Right Connection Unlocks the Right Future

• Ruth’s decision connected her to destiny—the lineage of Jesus.
• Your decision precedes your destiny. God reveals purpose after commitment.

IV. Convinced People Become Covenant People

• Ruth’s vow was covenantal: “Where you die, I will die.”
• Conviction is not seasonal—it is covenantal.
• Covenants always bring increase and inheritance.

Conclusion:
Like Ruth, we must be convinced we are in the right thing and the right place. There’s no wavering, doubting, or second-guessing when we are persuaded of God’s will. Outside of Him there is confusion and loss, but in Him there is safety, promise, and inheritance.

Declare it: “I’m in the right thing, in the right place. I’m fully persuaded, and I’m not turning back.” Celebrate your connection to God’s covenant and destiny.