C A P A C I T Y 2

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Hello WOPCC Family & Friends!!

I certainly hope all is well, especially coming off last week's fast. How was it? Any #CapacityChallenge wins you all would like to share? I invite you to comment below with some things you got from the challenge.

I want to continue to challenge you though. I challenge you to not to jump right back into the habit you fasted from to the extent you were enjoying it. After all, there is a reason you fasted from it, right? For example, I had to take a break from social media and tv because it was distracting and took up a lot of my time, even while at work. While I was fasting, I had more time to be sure I ate dinner and worked out all within a reasonable time frame, it encouraged me to spend more quality time with my husband and not just quantity time, and I was much more productive at work. So if I find that I'm more productive with limited screen time, it wouldn't make much sense to go back to the old frequency in which I watched tv and was attached to my phone. Now I need to find a comfortable balance between enjoying screen time, but also making sure I give full attention to God and my household.

I say that to say, if you got rid of something for a week to make more room for God, don't fill it back up with something that takes His place. 

Hit it and quit its are rude...

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Okay, now that that's out, let's get on with the sermon recap:

Bishop continued with our focus on CAPACITY. He spoke on capacity as it relates to perspective and direction. In a nutshell, do we have the capacity (or is pride or self-sufficiency taking up too much room) to submit to God's way? Do we see our ways as being the right way, or do we have enough trust in our hearts to rely on and live in God's intention of perfection for us?

This was a scripture heavy sermon, so this is a great opportunity to get some Bible reading in. Read the context of the verse. Go a few verses up and a few down, or even read the chapter for some understanding. Take advantage of these related scriptures and use it as a way to study.

Bishop based the sermon on the idea of perfection.

"God wants you to see you as He sees you."

This is a moment where many of us can compare this sentence to everyday life. Not everyone can relate, but some can, and this may help with the understanding of what Bishop said, and it may help some people on an individual level.

One day I heard someone presenting on self-esteem or confidence or something like that, and she mentioned how there were some flaws that she had seen in herself that made her feel a little or even a lot self conscious. Thing was, her husband saw her as beautiful. The point she was driving home was, why would we ever expect our significant others (I'll even include friends in here to make this as inclusive as possible), to see us a certain way or to even like us if we don't see ourselves in that way? How selfish of us to place such a demand on others when we aren't in line with what we want from others.

God loves us and sees us as some "very good" creations, but sometimes we look in the mirror and we're like, "well God you made a mistake here...I know you're my Almighty Creator, but I don't like this..." 

I know I know, I do it too. [Sorry, God]

Thanks, Bishop, for the reminder that we need to see ourselves as God sees us!

*Disclaimer: There are some things we do have control over, and if we don't like it, we are able to change it, let's say with a healthier lifestyle, some lotion, a little vaseline,... you get what I'm saying here. God made us very good, but it's up to us to maintain that status.

Here's the list of scriptures that Bishop mentioned in the sermon (I've put the repeating ideas in the same colors so we can clearly see God's emphasis on His perfect way and His protection that comes with it):

• Psalm 71:7
• I have become as a wonder to many, but You are my strong refuge.
• What is a wonder?
• a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.
• The New Living Translation says, "My life is an example to many,
      because you have been my strength and protection."
• We should be a reflection of the Father here on earth. We should be a wonder, which makes people wonder, "what's different about them?" 

• 2 Samuel 22:31-33
• As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.“For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God. God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect.
• When I think of God's "way" in this scripture, I consider His actions/fashion of doing things, and direction. In both instances, it's perfect; nothing should be added and nothing should be taken away. 
• If God directs me down the center aisle, that way is perfect. If God does something with me, it'll be perfect. How do I know this? His Word proves it.
• Comment Question: What are some examples in the Bible where God showed His perfection in how He did something, and in direction?
• Following our own paths can come with risks and dangers. Frankly, there's dangers in following God as well. Peter walking on water was dangerous (when you need to be saved, you're in danger). But what was the difference between Peter drowning and him experiencing Jesus the way he was supposed to experience Jesus? Trust (specifically in Peter's case, keeping his eyes on Jesus, but if that's not trust, I'm not sure what is). 
• Trust in God is what determines whether we're traveling our path or God's path. On God's path there is protection (you don't need protection if there are no dangers. Remember, the enemy roams around seeking whom he may devour); God is our shield. On our path, we may feel like or think that we're following God, but if we're not trusting Him, then we're not on His perfect path.
• If God's way is perfect, and I follow in His perfection, my way is inevitably perfect. 
• He is a shield to all who trust in Him. All means all. If you don't trust in Him, you're not included in that all.

• 1 John 4:17
•  "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world."
• "...as He is, so are we in this world."
• we are to be a reflection of God in this world. People should see His perfection here on earth. If anything, they should see the perfection in the blood of Jesus on us here. 
• BONUS: v. 18 "There is no fear in love [God]; but perfect love [God] casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love [God]. "
• this relates to following God's way. Knowing there's protection in God's way, fear should be driven out resulting in a boldness. 

• Genesis 1:26a
• Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;
• Again, we should look like God here on earth.
• Image:
• Image 1: He made us to look like Him (like a photo)
• Image 2: He made us to look just as He planned for us to look according to His blueprint.
• Likeness: 
• Likeness 1: We were made to His standard of satisfaction
• Likeness 2: We were made to be like Him
• Us: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit

• Psalm 18:30
• As for God, His way is perfect;The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

• 2 Corinthians 13:1
• This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”
• God's Word has been repeated, it has been spoken by many, there are many testimonies attesting to His perfect way...IT'S ESTABLISHED

• Proverbs 14:12
• There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
• There is one way that may seem right, but it results in several ways of death
• Don't be fooled. Just because it seems right doesn't make it right.

• Proverbs 16:25
• There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
• Second Mention
• We were told if someone tells you something more than once, it's because they love you. They care that you follow the direction, especially if it's going to keep you safe.

• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
• Complete Trust  + Use God's Freely Given Wisdom + Acknowledge Him = Directed Path
• Don't become wise in your own eyes (Proverbs 3:7)

• Jeremiah 1:5
• Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
• "You were you before you knew you"

• Lamentations 3:37
• Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, when the Lord has not commanded it?
• Who can command things to happen without the Lord’s permission? NLT 
• Where did you get that from?
• Did God tell you that?
• Lean not to your own understanding
• HIS ways are perfect

The secret to being in a direction of perfection is to get in a position of being moldable and doing the Will of the Father.

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As usual, if you have anything to add, any comments to make, or any questions you'd like to ask, please leave a comment and get the conversation going!

Did you miss service and/or the Facebook Live or do you just want to experience the service again? If so, here's the link to Sunday's Service. 

          Sunday Service is every Sunday beginning at 9:30 am and you're more than welcomed to join us!

See you soon,