Union with Christ and Second Corinthians. And this morning, the general question is, how does the book of Second Corinthians reveal Union with Christ? I only have four major points on the handout. It could have been more. There, the places in Second Corinthians where we see in Him, in Christ, is frequent. And could have easily made a longer list. So, like with most of our studies, please don't see this as comprehensive, but somewhat representative and introductory to give you an idea of what Second Corinthians does teach on Union with Christ. And all these things can be encouragement to further study because the handout has related topics with our confession, our catechism, and also some study it for yourself questions. So, beginning this morning on an introduction in the handout, the third question under study it for yourself. There's a typo there. It says, read Second Corinthians 14 through 18. That should say, read Second Corinthians chapter six verses 14 through 18, so you'll have to add a six there. And in beginning with Second Corinthians, it's still like with First Corinthians, the church that is at Corinth. And now with this Second Corinthians, this letter that Paul has written to them, their relationship has changed some and for the better, they have repented. If you see in Second Corinthians seven, he says, for even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it, for I perceive that that same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. I rejoice not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. Largely, the congregation has repented in reference to one of Paul's severe letter and to that severe letter that's referenced or tearful letter and he's found out about it through Timothy and now he's writing this letter, I think from Macedonia and he wants to come to them and he had a change of his plans though and that's a big deal because even though they've repented, there are still those among them, whether they are believers or not and Paul references some of them as unbelievers because he says separate from them in chapter six, but they are attacking Paul and by necessity attacking the gospel because Paul is the apostle or an apostle of the gospel. So Paul has to give a defense of his apostleship and a lot of Corinthians is revolving around that and then towards the end of Corinthians, he's focusing on exposing the false apostles or the false teachers that are instigating the predominantly current Corinthians response to him in relationship to him and ultimately to God through the gospel. So let's start with chapter one. Paul has this section here from verses three on down, I'd say to maybe 14, but he's focusing early on about being comforted and undergoing suffering. One of the accusations was that Paul suffers too much to be an apostle and that's one of the things that threads that runs through Corinthians. He says, blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ in verse three, the father of mercies and God of all comfort who comforts us in our tribulation that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also abounds through Christ. So he's just showing there briefly, he's thanking God for those trials because God simultaneously comforts him in it for the purpose that he as an apostle might comfort others who are in trial. But moving on into verse 17, let me read verses 17 through 22 because I'm gonna start actually at 15 and I may read past 22, but I'm just read that section because this is dealing with why Paul made a change of his plans with Corinthians and the way they responded to that. So in verse 15 he says, and in this confidence I intended to come to you before that you might have a second benefit to pass by way of you to Macedonia to come again from Macedonia to you and be helped by you on my way to Judea. Therefore when I was planning this, did I do it lightly or the things I plan? Do I plan according to the flesh that with me there should be yes, yes and no, no? But as God is faithful, our word to you was not yes and no. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ who has preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus and Timothy was not yes and no, but in him was yes. For all the promises of God in him are yes and in him, amen, to the glory of God through us. Now he who establishes us with you in Christ has anointed us and has anointed us is God who also has sealed us and given us the spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.  Not that we have dominion over you, but our fellow workers for your joy, for by faith you stand. But I determined this within myself that I would not come again to you in sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? Okay, this section you can see how Paul is saying in verse 17, when I was planning this that I plan it lightly or do I plan according to the flesh that with me there should be yes, yes and no, no. So they knew his original plan and context was to come to them, but he decided to not come to them. And the way that they in their hearts were being influenced by others or in and of themselves were responding to that decision change was Paul is either deceitful or he plans according to the flesh, he is has fault. And it implicates the trustworthiness of Paul's ministry. So it's a really big deal to make that accusation or to believe in that so Paul's addressing it. They're judging unrighteously and now Paul's correcting that by focusing on why he changed his plans but he doesn't just leave it there, he doesn't just say no, I don't say yes and no simultaneously. You're wrong, he could have left it there. He goes on to his message, which is really God's word to them because there's such a close link or tie between the apostle and the gospel. He's God's representative. So to undermine his character, to undermine the trustworthiness of his plans or his word is to the detriment of your soul because now you're going to interfere with your own trust in the Lord. So he goes into the gospel here and he says in 18, as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no because. So what I want you to see here in verse 18, he's focusing now on our word and then the next verse for the Son of God, Jesus Christ who was preached among you by us by me, Silvanus and Timothy was not yes and no. So verse 18, the subject of that sentence is our word, the word. In verse 19, it's the Son. The Son of God was not yes and no. The Word was not yes and no. The Son was not yes and no. And then in verse 20, for all the promises of God in him are yes and in him, amen. So there the subject is the promises. So we have the Word that they are preaching, the Son and then the promises. And since the promises of God are all yes in Christ Jesus therefore Jesus himself is not yes and no. Therefore the Word that Paul preaches is not yes and no. And you can see that Paul's concerned with their faith. He's concerned with their loyalty to Lord Jesus Christ and that being undermined by this unrighteous judgment of his change of plans. And in here we see the Word in him was yes and the promises of God in him are yes and in him, amen. That's not speaking directly of our particular union. It's referenced how you can see in the context the Son of God was not yes and no, but in him was yes. And all the promises of God are in him, yes. I think that's instrumental, like God reconciling the world through Christ. So the promises are yes through the work of Christ. He's instrumental in bringing out the fulfillment of the promises. But if we go on, we see in verse 21. Now he who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God who also has sealed us and given us the spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Now we're getting directly or immediately into the application of salvation and union with Christ. Because he says, he who establishes us, that's God the Father who establishes us with you. So that's Paul and those who are with Paul, with you that's the Corinthians in Christ has anointed us and has anointed us. You see there how he's bringing out union with Christ to remind them that they're incorporated as one body, they're together. In a sense for them to doubt Paul and his decision changes and therefore his word and therefore the word of Jesus Christ and therefore the fulfillment of God's promises and all these implications for them to doubt that has an implication of on their own salvation. So he constantly through second Corinthians uses union with Christ to remind them that you are undermining your own profession. You're undermining your own salvation because God worked through the means of our apostleship. And I think he's just indirectly doing it but he is directly speaking about union with Christ, how they are established with you in Christ and has anointed us. And since he just got done saying the promises of God or yes, I believe that establishment is their establishment of being saved, established as the people of God and also his anointing or his selection from God is from God and it's in Christ. And then he goes on to talk more about who God is.  He has sealed us and given us the spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. So that union with Christ there is bringing out the realm or their belonging to Christ and the way in which they were established in salvation. It's in Christ. Any questions so far? Do y'all remember those terms that we've used a number of times where it's identification, incorporation and participation? All the promises are yes in him and then he says he who established us with you in Christ, he establishes us with you in Christ. What part or what term best suits that? He establishes us with you in Christ. What is the in Christ informing Paul's word here? I mean, I think probably a couple of the different ones. You know, I think participation because it speaks of them being with one another. So they're established, he established us with you, does speak to their participation together in union with Christ in union with one another. And then also I think incorporation as well because they are being established together. They're being incorporated into the body together. Amen, amen. Yeah, it doesn't have to be, and I don't want to fool anybody with the way I ask the question, but it doesn't have to be one particular category. The main point of the question is just to get you to see these themes, these nuances. Yeah, so because of union with Christ, there is a togetherness and incorporation. And because of union with Christ, there is an establishment, they're identified, but in that identification, they're participating in that salvation. All right. And let me read to you a chapter out of our confession. This is on Christ the mediator. We need to remember too, as we study union with Christ, we're largely focusing, I think I have been, on the union part. But we need to remember that it's union with Christ. The union does not have any benefits if it's not the person and work of Jesus Christ. So the more we are informed about the person of Christ, the work of Christ in our stead and on our behalf, the more we'll understand the benefits that are received by union with Him. So I wanna read to you chapter eight, verse one, because I think it's relevant for this section. It please God in His eternal purpose. See, it's God, and here's why I'm reading this. For all the promises of God the Father in Christ are yes. God makes promises beginning all the way from Genesis 315 to undo what was done in the garden and to crush the serpent's head, to bring amity, that's peace, between those who are now in enmity, to super restore what was lost. And those promises just develop throughout the biblical revelation. And all those promises are fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. So that's why I'm reading this. It please God, that's the Father, in His eternal purpose to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son. According to the covenant made between them both, to be the mediator between God and man, the prophet, priest and king, head and savior of His church, the heir of all things and judge of the world, unto whom He did from all eternity give a people to be His seed and to be by Him in time, redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified. God promised to redeem a people. He promised to call a people. He promised to justify a people. He promised to sanctify a people. He promises to glorify a people. And He does it all through Christ. Anybody wanna add any thoughts before we go on? All right, well, let's go to the second point. So if you'll turn to 2nd Corinthians 5, 16 through 21, I titled this Reconciliation and It's Ministry. And I think I'm gonna start a little bit higher. Let's start in 12. Cause this is still in light of the fact that Paul is giving a defense for his ministry, that they be rightly trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and the message of the gospel is not undermined by their rejection of Paul. And he says here, verse 12, for we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God or if we are of a sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us because we judge thus that if one died for all, then all died. And he died for all that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh, even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new. Now, all things are of God who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. As though God were pleading through us, we implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God. For he made him who knew no sin to be sinned for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Where in here can you find, through observation, a reference to union with Christ? Tyler. I think there are multiple places, but for me the most obvious one is in verse 21 with representation where it says so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Amen. Verse 21 is a good place. Any others? Verse 17, Mrs. Leah said, verse 17, so we see therefore if anyone is in Christ, amen, that's a good place too. Those are the two main ones that I have in mind. So let's take a moment though and observe these verses and compare, let's make a list. We have union with Christ and then we have, which is the new. He hits on the new there. And then we have the old, which is not in union with Christ. What are, y'all, feel free to pass the mic around and answer, but when you observe in the text, what are things associated with being in union with Christ or being new in the text? Pastor Michael. Yeah, I just wanted to point out an observation in verse 20. So usually when we think of our identification with Christ, specifically in regards to his work for us or his work on our behalf, like union kind of, union is looked at from that perspective of Christ dying on our behalf, but here it's like reversed. We are employing, Paul is employing sinners to be reconciled to God on behalf of Christ. So there is an identification between the apostle and Christ in that Paul is employing the sinner, be reconciled to God on behalf of Christ. So it's very similar to the on behalf of the on behalf of identification. Oh yeah. You know that the scriptures often speak of when Christ dying on our behalf, but here it's Paul speaking on behalf of Christ. Yeah, amen. That's very helpful. Anybody wanna, Sergio? They're trespasses to them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. So there's a commissioning of, I would say bringing reconciliation to others. I see anybody else? Mr. Ron? So to clarify, the question again was in what does the newness of life bring? Yes, anything that we see in the text that's associated with being new or in union with Christ and anything in the text that we see associated with being old or not in union. Okay, so on the new side, a very important thing in chapter or sorry, in verse 18, we are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Amen. I'll add another one here on the new. He says in verse 17, if anyone is in Christ, then he is a new creation and I know it's up here, but we are a new creation. You can go up too.  That those who live should no longer live for themselves so they don't live for themselves, live not for self. And on the other side, that's what those who are in the old or not in union with Christ, they live for self. Also, what's this death here? He died, that if one died for all, then all died. And he died for all. So when they die, what is that death? I would say death to sin. Death to sin. Death to sin, yeah. Death to, and we use those terms that are helpful to remind us of where we are and redemptive history. Peasants of sin, but death to the power. And that means that if you're over here, you're, he says, old things. If you're in Adam and the old things, not in union with Christ, then you're alive to the power of sin. Also, we could talk about the condemnation of sin. If you go down to verse 21 or 20 and 21, I'll just say 21. He made him who knew no sin to be sinned for us. So being in union with Christ means that you have Christ receiving, and I know that this particular union is very broad. And when it comes to our spiritual union with Christ, our being given faith by regeneration and repenting that entering into that union with Christ has begun there. However, through representation in the covenant of redemption and the new covenant, Christ was representing us. Our sins were credited to him and that's what Paul's bringing out. So union with Christ encapsulates as a broader doctrine, even the work of Christ before its application. But we just need to be careful with our distinctions because Christ, we need to be careful to avoid eternal justification. There's some people who believe that we never were in a non-justified state. We were always in a justified state. But no, we're not justified through the means of faith that we put in Christ. Are we declared righteous and have the righteous works of Christ in application of that salvation credited to us? But in a broader umbrella of union with Christ, because the Bible talks about how we were chosen in him before the foundation of the world, we have representation. And in that representation, we have Christ having our sins. I was just gonna add a couple of things. I don't wanna get off topic justification, but so when Paul talks about new creation, usually he's talking about in reference to like new man and putting off the old man. And then also, so it's death to our old self, it's death to the old man, or the old creation because now we're a new creation in Christ. And then also in verse 15, he says, well, it's true, the first part says that we no longer live for ourselves, but the contrast in verse 15, but for him. So we live not for ourselves, but we live for Christ. Amen. So we could say, not only did they live, not only did we and those who do not in union with Christ once live for ourselves, but on the negative side, they do not live for Christ. That's, and if you see somebody not living for Christ and you tell them on the basis of what the Bible says that you're not living for Christ, that by necessity means you're living for yourself. You might not think of it that way and might not even wanna hear that, but as a doctor who cares for his patient, that's necessary for you to hear because you will not see your need for this if you think that you're living, not living for yourself. It's 518, as we consider union with Christ, it says now all these things are from God. So apart from him, we don't become partakers of any of these things. Yeah. So it's just very beautiful. So it's all from God. Okay. That's just to go through an exercise because you can do this on your own when you come across texts that you recognize are dealing with union with Christ to get more familiarity and more comfort with what union with Christ is speaking of back here in the back. At what stage or what point of your life you change from the old man to the new man? When does that happen? When does that transition take place? Yeah, amen. That's a really good question. Let's look at a classic text on that. Let's go to Ephesians 2. It's just to start. I'm sure there's other texts and if someone else would like to add after we read this, feel free. But Ephesians 2 verse one, we see what it was like before salvation and then we see what happens in salvation and we see not necessarily with the context of the Ephesians the what happened, when it happened, I should say when, but it does say what? So if we look here and you, he made alive who were dead in trespasses in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. And we're by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God who is rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us, even there's a win, when we were dead in trespasses and sins made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved and raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. And then also, so to point out there, you were dead, a dead man cannot respond. He does not have the power or capacity to respond to the living. But God does the supernatural. He does the impossible. With men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible. And what does God do? He takes a dead sinner and makes them alive together with Christ. And that's another term for that is the doctrine of regeneration or born again. Born again is not something that you determine where I choose today to get baptized in water. And because I'm choosing this on my own, I know that when I go into the water, God is required by me and my work to give me his spirit and to give me a new heart. And then when I come out of the water, I know it will be true because I chose that time. It says here, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, he made us alive. If someone's choosing to be baptized in water and then they choose and they are thinking it's in this right, this ritual that I'm going to receive the spirit, there's something within them they believe and in their mind and in their heart that makes them see the glory of God and the need of him and is good in and of itself that it's choosing God. And someone that's in that state, if you think that way, you don't think of yourself as being dead and unresponsive to God. You think of yourself as responding to God and that my response precedes God's making me alive and giving me the spirit. So when I go into the water, I've already chosen God. I'm not dead in my sins. And then in the midst of the water, God gives me his spirit. And that's false because this text says even when we were dead, when did he make believers alive when they were dead in their sins? So it can't be by a choice of the man. If you go to John one and I use baptism because I think most of us would see that obvious nature of the foolishness of that thinking but now apply that same thinking to a sinner's prayer. When are they made alive? When are they born again? And what is born again? Some people believe that born again is simply a change of my life in and of my own strength to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. And once I choose that and say this prayer, God gives me his spirit and they misunderstand what that means when they receive the spirit. And therefore I'm saved. Again, like with the baptism, that person does not believe themselves to be dead in trespasses and sins. Because if you ask them, how did you receive the spirit? They'll say, because I prayed. Well, that means your prayer preceded your receiving of the spirit. Your being made alive followed your choice. But the Bible does not teach that. The Bible says when you were dead in your sins and trespasses, he made us alive. And then look at John one. Let's see, verse 12. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God. This reception here is salvific. So as many as received him, that means they put their faith in him. They had saving faith, repentance and faith in Christ. As many as salvifically believed in him. To them he gave the right to become the adopted children of God. And who are these people? They are those who believe in his name, okay? Well, tell us more about these people. They were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Yes, sir. Can you explain Romans six, four and five, please? Yeah, I don't mind going there in a second. We'll go there. And that's, I hope that it will be helpful. But before we go there, let's set that aside for a moment and see if we can see what this is saying. One of the dangers and being too hasty to jump around in the Bible with what we think are refuting things that we're hearing is that we never rightly understand what we hear. So do we rightly understand this text? Because we know that although many verses and many books comprise this Bible, it's one author, it's God, and it's in contradictory. So if we rightly interpret and understand one part of the Bible, in no way will the Bible ever counter that. And that theology can help govern interpretation of other texts. So let's do some exegesis here, but as many as received him.  The word was God and nothing was made that was made in verse three. But then he goes on in verse 10, he was in the world, that's Jesus, the Son of God, the word was in the world and the world was made through him and the world did not know him. So he was in the world, that's the incarnation, the Son of God came from heaven and took on flesh and came into the world to mankind. And it was that same world that he made and the world did not know him. Now they knew what he said when he was here, but what they mean by he did not know him and the Bible, that word no carries different meanings and it's talking about salvific. The world did not know him, they did not trust in him, they denied him and he goes on to show that he came to his own and I believe that's speaking of the Jews, even in the side texts it says his own people and Jesus in his ministry would say, I'm here to minister to Judea or to Jerusalem or to Israel when a Gentile would come, he would say that and then they would say, well, even the dogs gather, eat crumbs off the table, basically I know I'm not a Jew but have mercy and he showed mercy, but in that text you can see that the Lord's focus, Jesus when he was here was to minister to the children of Abraham. He came to his own and his own did not receive him. So what did the Jews do to him? They crucified him, but as many as received him, whether Jew or Gentile and that salvific reception that's talking about did not know him, well they knew him because they received him. To them he gave the right to become children of God. So there's this adoption that comes logically along with receiving him and to those who believe in his name. So he gave the right to become children of God and to be more clear it's those who believe in his name. That's why I'm saying as many as received him as salvific because here it's saying believed in his name. And look at this relative clause that comes after it. What this is telling us about the nature of their salvation. Who were born, not of blood.  I have the blood of Israel. I can track my genealogy back to Abraham. Therefore the promises of God for eternal salvation apply to me and what John's saying is those who believe in his name, they were born but I'm not talking about them being born of blood. That's not what is true that makes them saved. It's not their genealogy. There is a lot of Jews that went to the grave rejecting Christ. And Jesus said if I am the way, the truth and the life no one comes to the Father but through me. And they were born not of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man. And these wills is the will of either the person or of others. But the point is that it doesn't matter if it's my dad, me, my wife, it doesn't matter. Anybody's will does not determine my birth in Christ. It's they were born of God. And that runs a lot of counter to decisional regeneration. Some people believe that they are born again by making a choice, their own will. They choose but very clearly here, how were they born? Not of blood, not of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. So Romans six, I have to probably pick this up with you after cause I wanna summarize for the lesson and we have less than five minutes. This is in primarily a doctrinal section of Romans because in Romans 12, Paul shifts to a practice of the gospel, but Romans one through 11, he's focused on primarily the doctrine of the gospel. And in chapter six, he says, what shall we say then? Shall we continue and sin that grace may abound? Meganoita, certainly not. How shall we who die to sin live any longer in it? So he does this very orderly in Romans. He introduces a question and then he proceeds to answer it. And it helps to demarcate a section that's focused on one topic. And the question is the largest indicator of what everything he's about to say is focused on. It helps govern interpretation and does not get carried away with ideas. What is the focus here? Shall we continue and sin that grace may abound? No, so there's an accusation when someone learns that chapter five more of the law entered that the offense might abound, but where sin abounded, grace abounded much more so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life. So Paul's saying that the fact that we sinned and it abounded by the law and then was overcome by Christ only serves to highlight the grace of God in Christ. And when somebody learns that rightly from Paul, they say, well, Paul, you're saying that let's continue to sin that God's grace may abound. And he says, absolutely not. And then he gives an argument why that thinking's faulty. He says, how shall we who died to what? To sin live any longer in it. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death. That just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Look at the next. For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection. Knowing that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we are no longer slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. So here in verse seven, there's this theme of death. He says died, likeness of his death, and then raised. And baptism is, there are some who interpret this as water baptism. But does the Bible ever use the word baptism to reference something other than water baptism? Yes it does. And here this is not a reference to anything related to water. It's all related to our being dead, our becoming dead in Christ, dying with him. For if we die with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him knowing that Christ having been raised from the dead dies no more. And we could talk about it more after and show you where the Bible doesn't always reference water when it speaks of baptism, keep it in context. It's foreign to think that Paul would only now through all these chapters reference water baptism and not do it through the remainder of the chapters when he's so heavily focused on the nature of the gospel. It doesn't cohere with chapter four or three about how we're justified by faith alone. It runs against what Paul teaches in Romans three and four. So it doesn't fit in context and we are then needing to think about ways in which Paul uses the word baptized to reference other things. So let's, in the handout, the separation from believers, if you'll go to your study questions and do that, you'll get a good grasp of it. And then the evidence of salvation in 2 Corinthians 13, Paul's telling them to test themselves because he wants them to see that they're in Christ. And when they see that they're in Christ, they have to by necessity see that that salvation came by the means of his ministry. And when they say, yes, I have a new heart, I'm a new creation. These things are true of me. Wait a minute, God used Paul to do that. Therefore, I can't deny Paul. So that's kind of his argument in 1st, 2 Corinthians 13 because he expects them to test themselves and to affirm that they are believers for the purpose that it would vindicate his ministry and renew their relationship and purge out this leaven of thought that these false apostles are putting in their heads. Who, let's pray. Our gracious Father, we thank you for the lesson and we praise you for union with Christ. I pray that the study would continue to bear fruit and that our understanding of this union would grow, help us to be faithful to your word. And when we get into theology to give it clearly so that our understanding is well informed and I praise you, Lord. Amen.


The looming recession is making headlines in America and around the world. But the question is, is this season divinely appointed by God? God is going to allow the economies of the nations to tank. And when the Lord does it, it will be a period of a transfer and a transition within the world and within the body of Christ. Come on, somebody. There's a special message coming up from apostle Joshua Giles about the economic downturn and why it's providing a window of opportunity for the church. Plus, how is this recession going to be another test for the church? And as the markets tumble, what can you do to be prepared? And guess what? Pastor Connie Brooks is in the house. I'm telling you what, listen, you better stop everything you're doing right now because there's a word in the house and she's going to break down the wisdom and insight and how you can not just survive but thrive. Are you ready? I sure am. Signs of the Times. How to Recession Proof Your Life starts right now. Well, we're so glad you're joining us for Signs of the Times. We're talking about what God is saying in the prophetic now. We want to provide you with prophetic and a spiritual perspective of the days we're living in so you can be prepared and know what to do in the days ahead. Listen, the state of the markets are making news all around the world but what does this shaking mean for me and for you? Coming up on this show today, you're going to receive prophetic insight from Pastor Connie Brooks and Apostle Joshua Giles about why we're in a season of testing and what are God's marching orders for the body of Christ. Well, the question is, what's God speaking? How's he trying to get our attention with this economic downturn? I want you to take a look at this video from this amazing man of God who's making headlines all around the world. He's got a word for us and I want you to listen to Apostle Joshua Giles and what he's saying about what God is doing in this economic downturn. The Lord said to me, get ready for economic changes all around us. You've heard me, some of you that follow this ministry. You've heard me sharing this for some time now but the Lord said to say it again, God is going to allow the economies of the nations to tank. God is going to allow and some people are not going to like this word but I'm going to say it anyway. I've been sharing it but the Holy Spirit said, say it again. God is going to allow the economies of the nations to tank and when the Lord does it, it will be a period of a transfer and a transition within the world and within the body of Christ. It's going to be like suddenly, even though these things have been happening over time it's going to feel as though suddenly the economies of nations and the monetary systems of nations are in transition and they are in travail. When this happens, the Lord said to me, tell the people to rejoice. He said when they announce a recession and I've shared this word over the past two years but the Lord said, say it again. When they announce a recession, the Lord said tell the people to rejoice. He said because what I'm doing, it's not going to make sense in the natural. It's not going to seem like it lines up in the natural but in the middle of a recession, you are going to expand and you are going to increase. In the middle of a recession, the Lord said you're going to step over into a chiro's time. You're going to step over into a suddenly where the Lord's going to allow the prices of things to come down drastically. You're going to see the prices of property come down drastically. You're going to see the prices of houses and land come down drastically. You're going to see commercial property come down. You're going to see houses that they were building for some. People are going to have to step out of the deals because for this time they cannot afford it but then it's going to crash down. And why would the Lord cause the prices to come down? Yes, we've seen inflation all around us and we've seen hyperinflation but the Lord said tell the people to rejoice because you're going to see a plummet in this natural system and when you see the plummet it is a sign of another wealth transfer and when you see the prices begin to tank some of you where the land would have cost you three million dollars it's going to be cut in half for you. You're going to get it for a steal. Some of you that have been expanding in ministry and you're saying Lord how are we going to take the new territory? The Lord says I have ordained a recession in order to transfer it into your hands and somebody's panicking because they're saying well Lord what about the interest rate and what about all of these things and the Lord says I'm going to use what you see in the natural to cause you to expand and increase spiritually. You're going to rejoice in the middle of a recession because the Lord is moving and you're going to see wealth changing hands. Now somebody should rejoice over that word right there. It's already happening. It's already happening but you're going to see it accelerate over the next several months. The latter part of this year is going to be a very difficult and challenging time in the world's economy but for the church for those that are within the kingdom I'm talking about believers you are going to expand you are going to increase and you're going to walk in a place called wealth so that you can help advance the kingdom of God in your community in your sphere of influence and in the places that the Lord is pushing you into get ready to expand you will be like a tree that is planted by the rivers of living water and in your prosperity you shall never be moved. That's right. Welcome to signs of the times y'all. This is a place where you get a chance to hear what God is saying in the prophetic. Now listen you can't look at what's happening at the economy through a natural lens. That's why God has sent prophetic voices here for this moment so you know how to gauge the moment. This show has on it the anointing of the sons of Isacar. They knew how to discern the signs and the times and this is why we are here and I am so excited to have with us Pastor Connie Brooks from Plum PA right home grown in our own backyard a voice that the devil's got to reckon with every day and I'm so glad that you get an opportunity to hear what the spirit of the Lord is saying through her Pastor Connie it's so good to have you. It's good to be here. I'm excited. That clip really got me excited. You know what the devil's fighting. Oh my goodness. We know but it's the right time. We're in the right time in the right season and we are the right people for what God is doing. Amen and I'm so excited. You know I heard in my spirit as he was ministering and I hope you caught this video.  You're not going to get it all right now but there's so much that's going to come forth and you're going to need to download this into your spirit. You're going to have to break this down a little bit at a time and as he was talking I felt the Lord speaking to me saying this is a time pastor for divine reversal. We cannot look at the natural to determine what God is doing but he is going to use the natural economic downturn the rise of inflation, the recession we're in in order to bless the body of Christ. Absolutely. It's time for the church. It's time. When we talk about the transfer of the wealth like pastor did the fact is that it's time. It's the time. Everything God does has a time in connected to it and it's time for the church to be that bread basket that we are the ones that God is going to allow the money can trust us with it. He's been preparing us for this. This is not going to be like a surprise moment. He didn't wake up this morning and say no, this has been in the mind and the heart of God that his church would be the light would be the salt and he's going to give us everything we need to be that. You know, you said something just a little bit ago while we were talking watching during the clip that Joseph this first of all this recession and famine and all these things didn't take God by surprise. He had prepared Joseph 30 years before it ever happened. How do you think God is preparing? Let me say not preparing has been preparing people for such a time as this. Well, God's working behind the scenes all the time. It's not like it's a surprise and so when you look at Joseph at 16 getting the word that he would be a family would be bowing to him. He would be a leader. It's not until 46 that he's actually becomes an administrator but all the time look at all of the testings.  The Bible says many great work were not done because of unbelief. The devil wants us not to believe God getting to a posture of complaining and frustration and anger and bitterness so when God is ready to move we're not positioned to move with him. But when we know that testing comes with every prophetic word if you give a word you might as well say okay what's going to happen here because I know if God's given me this the enemy does not want this word to manifest and so when we hear the word recession it's like okay what we're going to do now God you know and God is saying to us go back to my word whether you go back to Genesis chapter 26 and see what God does with one man in the middle it opens up it was a famine in the land Genesis 26 opened that the first thing God tells us there was already a recession going on so recession is not nothing new God has dealt with that and so when you open up that chapter you see that there's a famine in the land but God gives instructions and he says to him do not go down to Egypt do not go to the world system stay in Jira I am with you I'm going to go with you at the end of that chapter you see God walking him through every test when strife came when envy came you see God moving him through everything so we have to be aware of that and it's no different in America I was just saying the kingdom of God still stands at the end of 45 presidents they've been recessions before 1945 to 1949 we had a recession at the end of that recession pastor they talked about just being sold 2.4 million cars being sold at the end of the recession it shows that how so many people became wealthy because like he said land is going to be cheap cars are going to be cheap because it's a recession and that's when God is saying to my people use wisdom stop spending frivolously so that when doors open you can walk through and become a blessing the church will have what it needs to be a blessing because God has allowed us to be the bread basket my good God now listen ladies and gentlemen she just gave you a little taste of this right here and we've got a whole lot more because I want to go into how God is using I want to even change it a little bit I feel the Lord is saying there are people that have been prepared you've been being tested for this time this is the time we're going to have the answers for the things we're going to walk through because you've already been where we're going listen you're going to want to stay tuned you are going to be so blessed but listen while we take a short break I want to let you know we have a free gift for you called God is my source by pastor Gloria Copeland I want you to call in if this show has been a blessing to you and you've already been blessed so far dial the phone<PHONE_NUMBER> let the prayer partner know this book we're going to send it right to and let them know also that you've enjoyed signs of the time we're going to take a short break and we're going to be right back for more signs of the times here at the flight 93 memorial in Somerset County there is great testimony given to the faithfulness of Almighty God that's right because you see it was on this flight that had been rerouted on its way to the power center of America in Washington that the passengers began to pray led by Todd Beamer he began with the Lord's Prayer and then went into the 23rd Psalm and all of the passengers were just saying to God yea though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil because God we know that you are with us thank you dear God and no matter what your circumstance is today no matter what your challenge what your heart ache or your pain we need not be afraid because yea though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death God is with us well we're really about to go in on this because I believe the devil is nervous and there is a blessing there is a window of opportunity that God has you positioned for you know Pastor Connie you had mentioned about Joseph and how he was 16 when he received the dream God knew when he was 16 how he needed to prepare for this moment can you just kind of when you said that it just jumped out at me of like wait a minute we don't even realize sometimes why we're in what we're in and how this window of opportunity is going to make everything we've been through make sense that's why we can't complain when we're being tested because the test is a part of the process and when Joseph got thrown into the pit he could have become angry and bitter he got sold into slavery he could have been mad about that then got into jail but if you notice every part of it was God doing something in him to prepare him for where he was going even when he got to prison and they forgot him after they said they would remember him they forgot him and so many times people are going through things right now and they're wondering why me why am I being tested why did I have to go through cancer it was to mature you it was to grow you up it was to establish your faith because every promise of God is conditional it's positional and it's geographical are you where you are when God promises you something or is there a shift that needs to take place into where God wants you to go and then God's promises are conditional God says I'll do this you do this am I in the place where God wants me to be to see what God is doing I know now pastor Jay that a few years I didn't know because I didn't understand all that God was doing but now I see the hand of God I see the collaboration that he's doing the people that he's bringing into your sphere of influence for what he's about to do so God has been working for many years I tried to leave the city of Pittsburgh and I was like God I love the warm I want to be in Florida by the beach but there's three rivers in the city of Pittsburgh that is going to be impactful for the move of God so just like Joseph God is working with me in my frustration wanting to leave but God is saying no there's a move I brought you here for a purpose and that purpose has been established and so in the process of getting that purpose to be God is working on my maturity my growth my faith and that's the same thing he did with Joseph so by the time he becomes an administrator at 46 he can now let go his brothers you didn't do this to me you're not the reason that I went through this this this you can look at that person that walked away from you and said no no don't be angry you walked away but God had a plan you couldn't go where I was going so the people out there that are hurting that are disappointed that have gone through a divorce someone walked away someone hurt them and they're thinking what have I done no they can't go where you're going they're not a part of your future they will not stand when you become a great administrator because they don't deserve it they couldn't walk through the process with you so those that are going through all these testing times don't look at it as God's mad or the devil it's a part of my process to make me into the greatest person that God wants me to be I've got to learn to evolve and becoming the greatest me that God wants me to be and that happens through testing. Wow you know as you're talking I was thinking about Joseph and I believe there's many people that are watching right now because when you said said why me and there's many of you that are watching they're saying why me why did I go and you are going through now hear me well I hope you heard the prophet here you have been going through all of these things and everybody else was okay because you know how it is pastor you know at times you're going through and you're like why is the devil picking on me you lose your job everybody else is getting promoted you lose your car breaks down someone else gets a new one you're single for 45 years everybody gets everybody's getting blessed but I hear the spirit of the Lord saying the season is changing when everybody was watching you go through and they were going up God says I'm turning it now that people are going to watch you go up and you're going to have the answers for everybody that's going through and isn't that what happened to Joseph he went through the pit he went to Potiphar's house he was really accused of rape thrown into the prison but everywhere he went he learned to dig himself out of the famine do you believe that God has been using these times to prepare people so then we will now the body of Christ will have the answers and the wisdom for the recession we're currently in absolutely God has no surprises it's not like he wakes up and is a surprise when you look at Joseph's life you see how God orchestrated every area of his life and then you see the change of heart you don't see that little boy 16 that couldn't wait to boast to every bond about his dream and they made everyone hating but not only that his dad gave him a coat his coat was prophetic his coat represented all the nations that he would reach if you remember it was a coat of many colors and what that coat represented is that Joseph you were never just a city you were called to nations and God is going to take you through nations what going through the nations is going to cost you something and so his own father mantled him with a prophetic mantle that you would reach nations and once he got that mantle on him it just began to just pin right all the way to Egypt and that is so important for us to understand God had already mantled him for where he was going and the nations he would reach when he got to Egypt he wasn't just dealing with the Jews he was dealing with every person in the world that needed food Egypt was the bread basket the church is the bread basket of the world we are God's source because God is the source and we're now the resource that God is using and we've got to learn to collaborate because as Pastor Giles said there's a transference of wealth I just said to someone yesterday that was saying to me how he's gone through a divorce and he couldn't understand Pastor why I'm gone through I said you know what's happening also men that have been mistreated and have been not been well and have not been taken care of God is even transferring in relationships women who have not been treated well God is not just transferring monies he's transferring relationships so you may say oh that person was married twice and they never had a husband because God used them to prepare him for you because God is transferring not just wealth but if you look at everything else there's a transference of relationships taking place because God is the source of everything God said I'll give you the desires of your heart he wouldn't promise you that and don't fulfill what you asked him and so we're seeing a great move of God like never before and God is giving people an opportunity to get it right because once you get into that level of leadership you don't have time to fix it then no you've got to be prepared when he got to be an administrator he could not have jealousy and anger and bitterness all of the things he had to be healed he had to learn how to let go quickly after they betrayed him then he gets to prison here comes the butler and the baker forgetting him again you know what I'm saying and so he could have been angry there but he kept on working and the Bible says and God was with him and that's what we have to understand no matter what you face in this season God is with you because there's a greater purpose and a greater destiny being ordained for you right now don't let your pain stop you from fulfilling your promise every promise it's always conditional it's always got a position where God positioned you for this promise you've got to remember promises are geographical he said he started out in Israel but look at where he wound up in Egypt the promise of the fulfillment of the promise was still Egypt the word came here but the manifestation wasn't here you know as you're talking I sense that this is the season for the manifestation I go back to what Apostle Giles was saying or what you're saying and you know as you're talking about the coats the revelation come back to me Joseph had three jackets he wore actually technically he had four he had the one with the coat of many colors but when they threw him into the pit it got stripped off and then when he went to Potiphar's house his Potiphar's wife stripped that off him he put on a new one when he went into the prison and the Bible says he took that off in order to go to Pharaoh and then he was wrapped with a robe come on I believe this is the season that those that have been prepared we're saying today this is the season that you take off the coat forget everything from the pit forget everything from Potiphar's house in the prison God's about to wrap you in the robe of the calling of the destiny there is a new anointing that's getting ready to come upon your life and I believe that leads us right into Genesis 26 absolutely that this is the time that we are in the middle of a famine talk to us about how the famine, recession inflation how they're all the same to me it is because what happens is it really talks about this when it comes to recession it's an economic downclimb something's happening in about two or three quarters they determine we're going into a recession a recession is nothing new for God when you go into the Bible you see famine which is also the same thing an economic downclimb things are not as producing like it usually is when you get to Genesis 26 the Bible opens up there's a famine in the land God takes one man Isaac and he says to him, don't go to Egypt now you see Joseph goes to Egypt but he says to Isaac you don't go to Egypt you stay right here in Jirah and I'm going to go with you and so he's staying right there but there's a famine in the land but what gets me excited about that is that God had positioned him your breakthrough is you stay here you don't go down to the world system looking to fix this you stay right here and I'm going to go with you we saw that even in the pandemic we lost over 300,000 people in the pandemic but the church is still here we are still here we're still here and God has blessed us in the pandemic there's some of us that increased in the pandemic instead of decreasing when I speak to people during the pandemic they prospered our church did better in the pandemic than when people were coming to church before because people were scared they were frightened, they wanted to obey God they wanted to fix it so those that weren't tithing were making sure they tithed because they didn't know what was going on and so we saw this move for God and it's the same thing when you look at Genesis 26 the Bible says God promised him I'm going to go with you and he begins to move forward in the things that God has called him to do in Genesis 26 but then you hit strive and envy you don't ever think easy there's always something that wants to pop off to get you off track to get you out of the will of God and as the famine is increasing in the land the Bible says that he began to dig wells and when he gets to a certain area here comes envy but what I love pastor he left the wells for them when people hurt us and wound us the first thing we want to do is shut down ignore them how about God calling you to bless those who have despitefully used you those who have wounded you those who have brought envy and strive into your life here now God says to you feed them that's what the church has to do we have to learn to let go the things of yesterday the strive who left our church and who joined another church and who do this that's not even relevant here's what God is saying to you bless you no you be a blessing and so you watch him he moved on dug another well here comes another opposition but he never stops to argue or fight over the well you don't have time you're going somewhere and you've got to get to a place where you understand everything I'm a steward everything I own belongs to God I'm not going to fight over a well just imagine if he had stopped in one of those wells and decided yeah I'm going to argue with these men and I'm going to take my well back he would have never gotten to his real birth he would have never gotten and that's what the enemy wants us to do stop and argue and fight and bicker among ourselves miss the collaboration miss the fact that together we can do more than by ourselves in coming and working with you on the set a few months ago I didn't know Pastor Jay but then look at the collaboration of what God is doing in our lives and just gleaning from you the nuggets that God has sheared and we see what God wants to do in the recession it's the same way here God takes this man through this journey and the Bible says and he became great and it didn't stop there and became very great this is what God will do in the middle of a recession is raising up his people to do great and mighty things for him the Bible said he sowed a seed in that year and the family majority of the time when you hear family nobody wants to give they want to hold on I'm going to hold on to everything I have but what they don't realize the only voice that a harvest responds to is that of a seed there is never a harvest without a seed so the time you do want to sow is in preparation for the recession so that even in the middle of a recession God has to honor his word because seeds are in the ground there is a recession, there is a famine whatever you want to name it never lacking I built a home in the middle of our pandemic we paid off our church in the middle of all that is going on God shows you I am your source not the world, not who is in the White House not the political arena I am your source and I say it all the time the kingdom of God has outlived 45 presidents the kingdom of God has outlived recessions before 1945 to 1949 recession we are still here you just preached a whole sermon I have to go back and unpack some of this because something that you said all of it is all good but what you said earlier and I think a lot of people need to grasp this the two people that God used the greatest analogies we are talking about you think of Joseph and you think of Isaac both had to labor for the people that did them wrong can I take a minute ladies and gentlemen I need you to understand many people are going to disqualify themselves because they have ingested the venom of the back biting they have ingested the venom of the things that have done you have allowed the bites in the wounds you received to fester and develop a spiritual gain green in your life not understanding that is the devil's plan to disqualify you from Rahobith where Isaac eventually gets to you cannot allow the envy and the strife look Joseph's brothers threw him in the pit Potiphar's wife threw him falsely accused him of a rape I mean the butler forgets about him Joseph makes an impact in his brothers he makes Potiphar's house better he's constantly doing for other people but every time he finds out something's bad let me ask you a question can you do the right thing even when you get the wrong results my good God Almighty because many people only want to do right thinking well I'll do it as long as I get what I want when I want but let me say this I hear the spirit of the Lord saying there are many of you that are watching right now that people have done you wrong people have hurt you and you've done the right thing but God says they are not your source they are not the ones that are going to bless you but the spirit of the Lord is saying I have kept the books and I am going to bless you for such a time as this do not look to man for your reward for it is not man that is going to reward you for it is not man that has put you where you've been man is not the one that ordered your steps but it is I the Lord that has ordered your steps and in this season the same God that ordered your steps into the pit the same God that ordered your steps into the potter for itself the same God that ordered your steps into the prison is the same God that is ordering your steps to be before Pharaoh in this season but do not allow those that have hurt you and wounded you to allow those wounds to fester but God saying in this season I will put favor and blessing in your life do not look to man and do not look to those that have hurt you or those that is going to bless you but it is I and those that have hurt you are the ones that you are going to bless I am not going to bless them but I am going to bless you and you are going to bless them says the Lord I sense in my spirit right now the power of God Pastor Connie that many people do not understand that those Isaacs I feel the glory of God those Isaacs he was digging wells and envy us against them those that were jealous but isn't that just like Jesus he died for a people I don't mean to preach I am sorry go ahead let him use you the Lord was the same way though he died for a bunch of people that didn't deserve us and this is the opportunity for the body of Christ to be the greatest demonstration of the love of Christ to become the bread basket for the world and people are hurting and they need the church that's why we were not created to just have a service we are to be the bread basket we are able to forgive we are able to let go we are able to be able to sow we are able to be able to have our churches what you and your wife are doing starting a program that help young women that are going through something this is what we were created to do and we have wasted so many times it is our time ladies and gentlemen I want you to understand God is moving right now there are many of you that have been digging wells like Isaac and I think about Joseph all that he went through every person that did him wrong he had to bless everyone he had to bless his family during the time his brothers ended up coming back to him man I feel the glory of God right now listen there are people if you have the right heart in this season God is going to send back the very people that did you wrong that are going to need you not in a way of look at y'all needed me you did me or not you can't be elevated like that you can only be elevated when you've got the right heart and that's what Joseph did didn't he Pastor Connie he said you meant it for evil but God meant it for our good and that's what we have to understand you are going through all of that to take all of the carnality out of you to take all of the stuff out of you so that when God gets you to that place humility is what goes with you caring and love because he said the greatest commandment is love and that's what God wants us to give to one another we got to get the ego and all of that out of the way the arrogance and say listen I love my brother I love my sister I know what you said but that doesn't matter now we need to feed you we need to walk you through deliverance do you know me because I work in a ministry of deliverance how many people have walked away for me in years and I've come back to my church and the Lord said to me they need to walk through healing and I said but God they left me and he's like you have to answer the call upon your life those people need you right now and that's what God is doing to the church we have to let go the past to become everything God calls us with we have to evolve into being more like Christ and we've got to willing to pivot we've got to do it on the drop of a hat without trying to figure it out think it out but show the love of God because that's who he is and Pastor Connie you know think of those people that have done the people wrong that have hurt and set them back did all those things if they can't deal with the bitterness the right way and serve them in the bitterness they'll never serve the people when they get the glory on them. No absolutely and pastor we can't use our pulpit as a place to cut we can't take our anger and our bitterness and our frustration and who left our church and who did this to us to the pulpit we've got to be pouring in the wine and the oil into the people we've got to pour into the lives of the people they are hurting they weren't matured enough they didn't know any better and so now that we are the leaders who have come through our own healing and our own deliverance and watch how God preserved us and kept us even when we blew it when we made mistakes God still used us do the same thing for someone else be a blessing to someone else and I think that's what we're seeing happening in the church today this recession is going to bring out the best of God in this church because it was all about him in the first place Do you understand ladies and gentlemen where you are right now in this moment that God is trying to position you for the greatest blessing that's why you have gone through and I sense people right now just weeping under the power of God we're speaking right to where you are you have been hurt you've been broke busted and disgusted you pulled knives out of your back people have lied on you they've mistreated you you've given your heart to people and they wounded you because the devil was hoping to destroy that heart and I hear the Lord saying it is that heart that I've given you of why I'm going to promote you it was your heart from the get go and you trusted people and they hurt you you reached out to people and they hurt you you served people and they took advantage of you but God saying if you can realize that that's the exact same way that I was I laid down my life for a people that didn't deserve it and if you will serve those people in this season the anointing that was on Joseph that Rehoboth blessing is going to come into your life in a super natural way listen ladies and gentlemen the power of God is here there is a divine reversal that is happening and we're going to take a short break here for just a moment and we're going to come back for more with Pastor Connie Brooks as we discuss what God is getting ready to do in this recession how he's going to take you from the back door and place you before great kings in this season happens here with the very vested inspirational programming start your new season with cornerstone television network ahead of you God will prepare the way God will change the heart of the other person God will do things that will absolutely surprise you find hope for a better day and sample the best of local Christian TV on cornerstone television network the anointing in the power of God is here on signs of the times we're here with Pastor Connie Brooks I feel such a weight of the anointing right now my good God there's a shift that is happening there's an anointing that is falling right now in your living room in that hospital room I'm telling you you are in miracle territory right now that God is doing a divinely you are in a kairos moment in this season that God is stepping in there's a divine interruption that is happening in your life you've been walking down a certain journey and in the middle of this recession God is stepping in right now pastor Connie and telling people this is the moment that I'm getting ready to do some new things we just take a minute and just minister to the people in their homes as the spirit of the Lord leads you I was just saying to Pastor Jay I heard someone say in the spirit why did I have to go through cancer why did I have to go through a divorce why did I have to go through is you're asking yourself the why why can you imagine that Isaac God and the whales were being clogged up or the envy stopped they said but why am I going through God said he's with me God told me to stay here why did I am I am I going through this I mean obedience to God because everything you go through is a part of where you're going it's making you who you are it's delivering you you don't even know sometimes what you're being delivered from and so if right now where you are you say God forgive me for complaining forgive me the Bible said do everything with a murmuring and complaining I promise you if you say right now to God God forgive me for complaining and murmuring about what I'm going through I lost my job and other people had their job God here's what God say I have a better job for you and more a young lady at my church was saying to me the other day that she needed a job I said by the end of August you'll have one and she called me and she said pastor I got the job and I got the money that I wanted we've got to understand when you lose something God has a greater coming for you he walked away from the well in Sydney he walked away from Essex but there was a Rehoboth coming what I don't want to do past the J is miss my Rehoboth by being angry and bitter and frustrated at life and church and people when there's a major move coming this recession was not created in a just a drop of God knew it was coming and what are you saying I am going to use it to transfer the wealth I'm going to use it to push you into your Rehoboth because if I didn't do it you would remain stuck and I need you to get where I have you to because you are going to be the bread basket you are going to supply the food you are going to be able to minister in the middle of the pandemic we fed 200 families every week because God told us to partner with the Heart Association we did it and we were able to feed families and we were going to tell his leaders what to do but we've got to you said something this morning calling leaders to pray in fast they don't want to do that they don't want to do that but that's where you're going to learn the voice of God and what to do for your church it's time out for three songs and a message and it's time out for getting into pulpit broken and hurt and wounded and spewing our bitterness it's time to heal the nation so that the people are ready to walk through this recession and get their transference of wealth to get the things that they've always wanted to do but could never afford to do and you know pastor kind of do you believe also that many people that are going through this time that everything that they have gone through was for the purpose of teaching them the Rehoboth their time in front of Pharaoh it's not about us no it's not you know a lot of time we're like how do I get my car how do I get my breakthrough when you're in Sitna God's burning all of that out so that when he really promotes you you understand first of all you ain't that cute because you've repented on every single one of those times you realize that anointing ain't yours that blessing is not yours and that in the midst of us and our brokenness and frailty as human beings we are called to serve one another and what I'm sensing maybe you could speak more to this is that there are many people that have walked through all of that and God wants them to see that it wasn't ever about them just like Joseph knew it was never about them and neither is this next level it's about us ministering to the world so this recession is a setup for those that have been processed that understand it's not about themselves but it's about serving the world with the love of Jesus Christ Pastor you have to understand we had come to a place even before the pandemic where preachers wouldn't come to a church that was small because they couldn't pay them there were leaders that would not come and bring your gift that God gave you bring the message that God gave you to a church because they only had 50 members and you don't preach anywhere unless you get 10,000 20,000 would not come now there's no churches hiring nobody there's no churches having them now because there's no money to give you that to you now that's over that season has come to an end God shut everything down those are the things that we have to understand God is moving because God needs the word to get to everyone the gift things your gift will bring you before kings but you've got to start somewhere you can't overlook the 50 because you want 50,000 that 50 also needs the word how do you know there was not one leader in that 50 that was going to impact the whole world if I choose where I take my gifts if I choose where I bring deliverance to where I come to you because you can't pay me enough what about that little boy in that congregation that's the next pastor J where's that little boy that's the next T.D.Jakes or Bishop Jiles who will bring that word to him of deliverance if the prophets choose where they're going to prophesy the Bible says the prophets and the priests are in bed together we can't collaborate and keep the word away the people need the word pastor we have got to come together and bring the word to the people so they're ready for this recession that the people are strong their giftings are elevated they're doing great and mighty things pastor we cannot keep the word of God from the people we've got to get it to them get them energized tell somebody you're going to make it you've gone through this because of God getting ready to use you mightily we've got to share it and I think in this recession is too you've got the big entourage and 50 people coming in they come in 45 minutes late they're not ready they can't be touched and can't be around the people and all that stuff you're right I think in 2020 God got rid of all of that and now he's putting the people that are going to be elevated in this season are the people that care about the one God has dealt with me even in my own world about the one listen we have gauged we have gauged ministry growth by numerics it is wrong because if that's the case when the 5,000 left Jesus he failed God is not looking hear the story it is wrong it is wrong it is wrong it is wrong it is wrong it is wrong it is wrong God is not looking hear this preacher well God is not looking for numbers he's looking for fruit see we are gauging it by the numbers of people I would watch this I would rather have 10 people with 50,000 pieces of fruit hanging off their tree than 50,000 people with 50 pieces of fruit Jesus will say you will know them by their numbers He said you will know them change lives. Numbers will come. Absolutely. If you change people want to be the best, themselves that they can be, we've got to get back to ministering to people, even in this recession is the opportunity to meet their needs and be a blessing to them. Pastor, I went to Florida on vacation. I was on vacation. I was telling Sister Sidney, I went to Florida on vacation. I found 80 children that had no book bags, not ready for school, drove into their neighborhood. The crack, the prostitution, I had never experienced that before in my life. And so someone said to me, well, it's in Pittsburgh. Why did it affect you like that? I never saw it. But once God showed it to me, I knew I had to do something. I came back. My assistant took all the book bags and things, bath and body products. We shipped it. When God shows you something, it's for you to do something because he's given you the money to do it. And like I said, if you want more of a harvest, you've got to plant more seeds. We took the book bags down. We took the food down. We sent water, juices. We realized, Pastor, they were struggling and the church has to become the bread basket. We've got to do something when we see something and we can't just walk away from it and act like we didn't see it. And that's what God is bringing us to, into that place of Rehoboth where we're not just taking for ourselves, but we have been fully prepared now to be a blessing. God never blessed us just to bless our four and no more. We've got to become the bread basket. We've got to minister and pour out to all those. That's what Joseph did. That's what Isaac did. Isaac kept on moving, kept on growing, kept on feeding everyone that he left there in Jura. That whole town was fed. Everyone there was fed all because he allowed them to keep those whales and he did not take them and fight over them. He kept on moving because he knew there was a bigger well coming. You know, as you're talking, it's so powerful because I think that's the key to unlocking this wealth transfer. See, and I have to be honest, we've all thought it probably, I'll speak to myself, if I thought like, you know, you're going to get this big wealth transfer and have all these zeros in your bank account. And you know, it's all right because that's what, but the reason why we wanted it is changing. And I believe in this recession, there are more troubles that are coming. Apostle Giles said it. The economic systems are going to tank. Why? God, he has prepared a people that are ready to, some of you, you said something earlier. You said, some of you don't even know what you're being delivered from. Sometimes we're in the middle of the fire. We don't even know what's being burned out of us. We have no idea. God does. God does. And he has prepared a people. And I believe you're watching right now because you have been prepared because you are going to start seeing things in the earth, in the recession, when the money tanks, when the economy tanks, there are problems everywhere. And guess who's going to show up? The church of the living God that has been processed like Joseph 30 years prior for such a time as this pastor coming. It is. And it's exactly that. Pastor Jay, you're not in Pittsburgh by accident. Pittsburgh is going to be one of the greatest movers God in the world. When the Lord said to me in this city where the three rivers meet, there was going to be a major move of God. Like I said, I've tried to ask God, why can't I just go somewhere warm and live? And the Lord said, this is where the move of God is coming. This is where I have you here. And so all the time, and you're going through the process of coming to Pittsburgh, or you've been going through all the tests to be here. And you're like, God, why Pittsburgh? And all of a sudden you'll begin to see now the revelation of why God has brought you here because it was for such a time as this. You are going to be such a catalyst of drawing leaders together for the next move of God because you are concerned about prayer. You're concerned about fasting. You're concerned about collaboration. Let's do this together. It's not about you anymore. It's about the kingdom of God and he wants us to do it together, working together to make the kingdom of God visible so that people can attain it. They can go after it, not a church, not a building, but we're a part of the kingdom of God. And God is going to use, whether it's like Joseph or Isaac, you're going to stand before great kings because he can trust you. And that's what you've been going through at home. You've been tested. You've been going through, and God can trust you in the season to do what God has called you to do. Your business is going to be restored. Your health is going to be restored. If you lay hands on your body right now, you're going to feel the miracle of God. God, you have been waiting for such a time as this to see the move of God. Don't be worried. Don't complain. Don't be dismayed about the fact that you've had to go through this. Yes, you lost a spouse. Yes, you went through some things. You have suffered losses, but you're going to be able to tell someone, but I got up again. God brought me through. God took me through and look at it. There's nobody that can restore like God. No, but the Bible says he is a restorer and God wants to restore. The Bible says there's going to come a day of great recompense of reward. There's a payday coming for each and every one of you who have gone through that testing time, that hard time. But now you know why have you been going through it? There is a Rehoboth. There is a place where you're going to stand before kings. You will not be going through this alone. God is with you. He was with Joseph. He was with Isaac and he is with you. Pastor Connie, we wouldn't even still be here if God wasn't with us. The fact that you're after the pandemic and all the stuff we've been through. And listen, there are many of you're still here and you're in your right mind.  And you know what I heard the Lord say? There is a Rehoboth in the recession. Absolutely. There's a Rehoboth in the recession. This is the turning point of what God is doing. Listen, see, we've got this whole thing about the whole focus is off. And even in my own world, the reason why we did the pregnancy center, I was actually here at Cornerstone and some things were going on here at Cornerstone. And God was shifting my season and had the things coming up with the pregnancy center and in order to get this pregnancy center off the ground, we had to take some time away from here. And I'm on my way home after having a meeting. He said, I need to take a little bit of time away. And I said, God, the pregnancy center wasn't even on my radar. You know what the Lord said to me? He said, that's the problem. The things that are on my heart are not on my people's heart. The things that are important. The reason why I'm blessing my church is not why the people want the blessing, but what's happening right now is people are beginning to get a heart for the things that grieve the heart of God. And this recession is going to be used to pull out of the people that have been prepared for such a time as this, the things that God has worked in them. And if you have been going through and you are still here, the anointing of Rehoboth is coming upon your life because you are going to be used as a vessel to minister in this end time harvest. Now listen, we are going to take another short break. I know we keep breaking in the action, but you know, if we leave you wanting more, you'll be back for more. Come back and we're going to share some of our final takeaways and we're going to minister to you as the spirit of the Lord leads on how you can continue to thrive in this recession. God's got a great plan for you. Stay tuned for more. Now we've only got a little bit of time left. And listen, we're going to minister to you for the time that we have left. I want you to call in, get this book. God is my source by Gloria Copeland. Free gift for just calling in and let us know if this show has been a blessing due to how it's made an impact. You know, Pastor Connie, as we're closing up here, I just want you to take a minute. However, the Lord leads you. You just minister to the people of God as the Lord sees fit. My God, only thing I kept hearing the Lord said, walk in obedience to me. That's what's critical right now. Walk in obedience to God. Forgive, repent, whatever you need to do.  Don't let anything block you in this season. No envy, no strife, no bitterness. Some of you have been in disagreement with your family. Some of you have been disagreement in your marriage and your job right now. Take time. Ask God to forgive you. Repent of it. Get yourself positioned for what God is about to do. Don't let anything cause you to miss your blessing in this season. It's so critical, Pastor, that we let go of things we need to let go. Do not allow anything to block us from our blessings. And sometimes I just felt like somebody had been holding something. They were hurt. They were wounded and they don't know how to let it go. This is a good time to let it go because God wants to move. I just see God moving on your house. I know you're going to call the studio and I believe in my heart that there's breakthrough coming for your house, that you forgive them right now. Somebody was molested as a child. Somebody was raped, just like we see in the Word of God. Just look at all that Joseph had went through. Look at all when Potiphar's wife took his coat and accused him of something he didn't do. You have been accused of something. We have somebody sitting in prison today that didn't do it and now God is saying, but I'm bringing you out. I am bringing you out with a high hand. And so today I ask you as we prophesy over you, live and not die. Live.  Live and declare the whole counsel of God.  Declare the testimony of God. I went through something, but God's brought me out. The doctors, one of my assistants was just telling us in the back, the doctors told him he was going to die that night. He said, not tonight. I know I'm going to die, but not tonight. You need to tell the enemy, not today, not on my watch. I am going to see the blessings of the God and I'm going to walk in my Rehoboth. I am going to stand before kings. My gift is about to open doors. I understand clearly now why I've been through what I've been through because God is doing a great, almighty work and nothing is impossible for my God. You need to get up from there right now. Make the call and say, listen, I just need them at the station just to pray for me and we pray right now for the blessings of the Lord to overtake you. Thank you so much, Pastor Connie, for this word and for this anointing that is on your life. And I hope that you have been blessed and I want you to understand that there is a Rehoboth for you in this recession. All that you have been through has prepared you Esther, has prepared you Joseph, has prepared you for such a time as this. Remember that there is a Rehoboth in this recession. Cornerstone Television wishes to thank all our faithful viewers whose consistent prayers and financial support have made this program possible.


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