When God chooses to use us, it should lead us to humility, NOT entitlement.

Influence is a gift, not a badge of superiority. The fact that God would use imperfect people like us should leave us in awe, NOT arrogance.

It’s not about being seen it’s about being surrendered. So, with this is mind, let me give you some power points about Influence and Humility.

***Being used by God should make us more humble not entitled!

***Influence IS NOT given to elevate us but to lift others!

***Influence IS NOT a reward it’s a responsibility!

***God will give you influence not to elevate your status but to expose your heart!

It’s not about being seen, it’s about being surrendered. 

The more God elevates us, the more we should be grateful, and

This is what this story has taught me. We’ve all read and heard the story about the woman at the well. But, after reading it recently, there are some things that really stood out to me.

So, here’s what the woman at the well taught me about shame, calling and being chosen anyway.

***She came to the well alone. In the heat of the day. Avoiding stares. Dodging whispers. She was carrying the weight of 5 husbands and a reputation.

And, don’t miss this. JESUS SAT THERE WAITING FOR HER !

***He asked her for water. But what He really came to give her was LIFE !  Not just eternal, but emotional, spiritual, and personal restoration.

***He didn’t shame her. He told her the truth. He ” read her mail. “  And yet, He still offered her Living Water.

Because

Not everything that looks like an answered prayer is from God. Sometimes it’s a distraction dressed up like a blessing.

Counterfeits come when you’re closest to your breakthrough. They show up loud, fast, flattering, and off in your spirit. The enemy doesn’t just fight you with pain. He fights you with premature promises.

**The enemy always sends a counterfeit before God sends the REAL THING. That connection that felt right but left you confused. That open door that drained you instead of blessing you. That relationship that looked like destiny but carried destruction. It was NEVER RANDOM. It was strategic warfare. The enemy will always try to send a copy before the promise.

**Counterfeits are always loud, fast, and flattering. Counterfeits come with urgency, not

Many of us as Christians have thought and been taught that ” deny yourself ” means:

Erase your emotions

Ignore your needs

Pretend you’re not hurting

But that’s NOT what Jesus meant.

• We’ve turned Jesus’ commandment to ” deny yourself ” into:  

Ignore your needs

Pretend you’re not hurting

Stuff down your emotions

Erase your personality

Have no boundaries

But that’s NOT what Jesus taught.

” Whoever wants to be my disciple must DENY THEMSELVES and take up their cross and follow me. ” ( Matt. 16:24  NIV )  This verse comes right after Peter tries to stop Jesus from going to the cross. In context, Jesus was rebuking Peter for prioritizing his self-centered earthly will over God’s

I know it doesn’t always feel like it, or look like it, but just because you can’t feel it, or see it, doesn’t mean it’s already yours. 

God doesn’t make empty promises. If He spoke it, He will finish it. Even if the door hasn’t opened, even if the answer hasn’t come, even if you’re still walking around a wall that hasn’t moved yet, you’re NOT LATE and YOU’RE NOT LOSING!

Remember these truths:

*God’s Word Isn’t A Theory. It’s A Guarantee.

Act like it. Move like it. Stand on it.

*It’s Already Yours.

Not because you FEEL it.

Not because you SEE it.

But because GOD SAID IT!

Heaven has ALREADY spoken. The Word is ALREADY working. You don’t need another sign. YOU NEED TO START WALKING!

*God Doesn’t Speak In Suggestions.

We’ve become experts at creating a vibe. Lighting. Loops. Transitions. Setlists. Branding. Atmosphere.

And none of that is bad. But if we’re not careful, we’ll spend our energy building moments for people and forget to build a place for God. 

Throughout Scripture, God responds to altars, not aesthetics. What are some key things we need to know when it comes to building altars in our personal lives? 

#1: One draws attention to the stage. The other draws the fire of heaven.

Our focus should be completely about Him, not some personality on a platform. It’s time for the ’ superstar ’ preachers to end! 

#2: A vibe entertains. An altar costs you something.

Too many Christians prefer entertainment over the Gospel, which has the power to change

Some of ya’ll are rebuking devils when it’s disobedience keeping you stuck. Not every season of lack is a result of spiritual warfare; sometimes it’s the consequence of ignoring instructions. 

Stop letting the enemy convince you that you’re ” waiting on God ” when the truth is …God’s been waiting on you!  Here’s what you need to know: 

#1: Poverty isn’t always a demon. Sometimes it’s a decision!

#2: Spiritual warfare is real. But so is a LACK OF DISCIPLINE. Not every dry season is an attack. Some are a result of ignoring DIVINE INSTRUCTION!

#3: You can’t bind what you refuse to build. You can’t cast out poor stewardship. And you can’t break through if you won’t obey through!

#4: ” Do not say, ’ I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I

God doesn’t want you to struggle or live in maintenance mode. The path of the righteous should increase steadily.

So, who are these 5 types of Christians that will always struggle? If you find yourself in one or more of these categories, then change should be at the top of your to-do list.

TYPE  #1- The Disobedient Christian.

God doesn’t bless rebellion. Disobedience is a sin. When you ignore God’s instructions, written or spoken, you dry up your supply.

TYPE  #2- The Carnal Christian.

You’re not under attack. Your flesh is out of control. IT’S NOT A DEMON; IT’S YOUR FLESH. DISCIPLINE IT!  Stop blaming the devil for what you refuse to put to death.

Gal. 5: 19-21

TYPE  #3- The Stingy Christian.

If nothing flows out, nothing

Have you prayed, or are you just preparing?  The most powerful worship doesn’t start with a song.

It starts in the secret place. Before you lead the room, let God lead you.

• Preparation matters. Practice matters. But without prayer, we’re just making noise.  
• Prayer isn’t a task, it’s a transfer. It’s where we hand God our anxiety, our ego, our expectations, and pick up His peace, His purpose, His power.
• Before you lead others, be led yourself. You can’t pour from an empty spirit. Let God lead you so you can lead with more than lyrics.
• Prayer clears the clutter. In the stillness, God reminds you who He is - and who you are.  ” Apart from me, you can do nothing. “  ( John 15:5 )
• Prayer gives you heaven’s perspective. You stop

In a world full of compromise, we can’t afford to be casual with our convictions. The enemy would love for us to break our boundaries so he could affect our convictions.

This isn’t the season to be soft with sin or blurry with boundaries. Here are some important truths to remember when it comes to our convictions, where compromise is a very real threat.

#1: Don’t Trade Your Convictions For Comfort !

The easy road is to resist change and choose comfort. It’s always a challenge when we’re in a position to stay true to our convictions or remain comfortable where we are when God is calling us to change. 

#2:  Where Boundaries Are Absent, Convictions Start To Fade!

Sin becomes more attractive. We become more easily subject to temptations. 

#3:

In this world, you will have trouble. Those may not be our favorite words in the Bible, but like it or not, Jesus said them. Some people think preachers who teach on faith don’t believe that. They think we teach that if you walk by faith, you won’t have any problems at all. But we don’t. We are well aware of the fact that this world is full of trouble. As long as we live in it, we’re going to face trouble too. 

Here are some points to help you when those troubles come your way.

#1: Even through the seemingly chaotic moments in life, let His voice settle your heart. (Jo.. 16:33)

#2: May His Words become the foundation that holds your entire world. (Jo.. 8:31,32)

#3: When you choose to immerse yourself in His Word, His character becomes more evident in your

A hardened heart doesn’t happen overnight. It happens in moments when we ignore conviction, justify disobedience, and quiet the voice of God because it’s inconvenient. But still, delayed obedience is disobedience.

#1: A Hardened Heart Resists God’s Voice!

When your heart becomes calloused, you can no longer discern conviction from comfort.

• You stop repenting
• You stop praying
• You stop responding    

 #2: Delayed Obedience Is Still Disobedience!

Every time you delay, you desensitize your spirit. What God told you to do now becomes harder to do later. 

• Partial obedience still breaks His heart
• Procrastination gives the enemy permission                                         

Yes, you heard right. God gets angry- but maybe not at what you think. Anger is an emotion that comes from the heart. But understand, God has a good, good heart. 

Let’s discuss anger and God.

#1: Anger can be holy. 

It means something matters.  It means Someone cares.  It means He has a heart.

#2: God doesn’t explode.

He doesn’t lose control and explode. He’s not unpredictable. His Word says He is: “slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”  (Ps. 103:8) 

#3: There are moments. 

There are moments when God gets angry. And it tells us what matters most to Him. 

#4: When……. 

When the powerful exploit the vulnerable. (Ex. 22:22,23)

When religion becomes a weapon. (Mk. 12:38-40)

When hearts become hard

You can’t cast out what you’re still cuddling. You can’t help others through what you refuse to heal from. You can’t build freely while silently bleeding.

Being in ministry, we carry oil, expensive oil, but many of us are also carrying unspoken wounds. And what we refuse to confront will eventually contaminate how we lead, serve, and love. 

#1: God Wants Your Heart, Not Just Your Gift.

He’s not impressed with your performance; he desires your posture. Your gifting might open doors, but it’s your healing that sustains the weight of the assignment.

#2: Deliverance Starts With Honesty.

God can’t heal the version of you you pretend to be. The real breakthrough begins where you stop hiding and start surrendering.

#3: Don’t Bleed On The People

Let’s be honest. You can’t live a life on fire for God with a lukewarm prayer life. If you’ve been feeling spiritually dry, disconnected, or distracted, this is a call for you to get back in alignment.

First, let’s define what it means to be lukewarm. 

Lukewarm= spiritually indifferent, casual in devotion, and comfortable in compromise. ” Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. ” (Rev.3:16) You’re not just in danger of stagnation, you’re at risk of separation.

*** The Dangers Of Being Lukewarm.

#1: You stop recognizing conviction.

#2: You normalize disobedience.

#3: You settle for comfort over consecration.

#4: You become susceptible to deception.

#5: You lose spiritual hunger and

So last week, we talked about storngholds and what they are. Remember we said the definition of a stronghold was any lie or argument that exalts itself against the truth of God…and holds you hostage. (2Cor.10:4,5) 

Today lets look at how to start destroying any strongholds in our lives.

*** RECOGNIZE IT-

What thought pattern or behavior keeps cycling despite your efforts to stop?

*** REPENT FOR IT-

Own where you you’ve believed a lie or chosen bondage over truth.

*** RENOUNCE IT-

Speak against it. Break agreement with it in the Name of Jesus.

*** REPLACE IT-

Fill that space with the truth from God’s Word. What lie did it feed you? What does God say instead?

*** REPEAT DAILY-

Strongholds don’t crumble with

The Holy Spirit is one of the greatest gifts that was given to us when we were born again.Because The Holy Spirit who dwells within us leads us, guides us, empowers us, corrects us, and comforts us. Too often we could grieve The Holy Spirit when we are led by our emotions that are not in alignment with God’s truth. Understand that The Holy Spirit is the greatest counselor who leads us to all truth.

*** We aren’t called to follow our heart…we are called to follow The Holy Spirit!

*** The Holy Spirit will never lead you to what’s comfortable…but to what’s holy!

*** When I don’t feel peace in my spirit…that is The Holy Spirit saying, ” don’t go near it. “

*** Don’t follow or be led by your heart…follow Jesus!

*** A life led by The Holy

When you are in a season of open doors, that word ‘SEASON’ means that there is a window of allotted time. It’s an appointed time.

*** There is a time for everything and the season for every activity under the heavens. So, what the Spirit of the Lord is saying is that under the heavens, there is a specific realm whereby God confines things to time and appoints specific moments for specific things. (Eccl.3:1)

*** God is not restricted by time. He lives outside of the confines and laws of time. He exists in eternity. However, He will use a human vessel who is within time to accomplish His purpose, understanding that the earth is submitted to a jurisdiction and a principle.

*** God holds His Word higher than Himself…..and He