The Grace To Last by Apostle Joshua Selman: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

INTRODUCTION: THE PRIVILEGE OF CONTRIBUTING TO GOD'S PEOPLE

It truly is a privilege to make contributions as far as building God's people is concerned. Conferences like these are largely word encounters — that means that God through the teaching of the word upgrades our spiritual understanding. He helps us to come into a level of mastery as far as understanding the things of the kingdom are concerned. Conferences like this help to sharpen our understanding, to build us, to impart us, to empower us indeed so that we will run.

WE ARE ORDAINED TO LIVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE

As believers, we have been called to live a victorious life. The Bible is clear as to the fact that God designed our work and our sojourn upon the earth to be laced with dominion and victory. And he not only gave us the call and the assignment, he also gave us the resources that equip us to walk in dominion.

John 15:8 — Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.

John 15:16 — You have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you. The word ordained means legitimize your operation — that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit will remain.

So we have been ordained to live a victorious life. The Bible says we are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), recreated in Christ, unto good works that God had pre-ordained that we should walk in them.

FIVE ELEMENTS FOR A VISION TO SPEAK

For any man's vision to speak, there are five elements that must be present — more so a ministerial vision of this sort:

1. A Distinct Mandate from God

   • We have a general assignment as believers — the great commission. But within that great commission there are distinct assignments. Not everybody may have a call of this sort, but there are many people whose calling and fulfillment is within the call of another person.
   • Generally speaking, it's important to have a distinct message.

2. A Divinely Revealed Strategy for Driving That Vision

   • It is dangerous to have a correct vision and invent your own strategy.
   • Every time God desires to use a man, he not only gives you a prophetic word, he not only gives you a vision — he gives you his strategy.
   • Most times great visions fail because the vision is correct, but the strategy is usually not divine. Most times we don't stay enough to receive the strategy. As soon as we receive the prophecy, we run and use our own strategy.
   • Joshua knew he was to bring Jericho down, but he had a plethora of options. He had to wait to ask how it would be done — and the strategy that came was not swords and spears, but going around Jericho, the priests bearing the ark, the shout, and the walls came down.
   • The strategy that executes the prophecy you are given is as powerful as the prophecy itself.

3. A Platform

   • You can have a great vision and a great strategy, but you need a platform.
   • A platform allows you to serve the grace that God has committed to you without hindrance.

4. Resources

   • There are two kinds of resources: human resources and material resources.
   • The greater are human resources. It is the presence of human resources that guarantee the arrival of material resources.
   • If you have money and you don't have men, you are poor.
   • The Bible says in the multitude of men is a king's honour. There are many things money cannot do.

5. Divine Backing

   • This is where the rubber hits the road. There must be evidence upon your life that God sent you.
   • No matter even if you have all four of the above — if you do not have that backing, you will be frustrated.
   • Psalm 18:29 — For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
   • A troop is not just men — a troop is men who are equipped. And a single person runs through a troop. These are the possibilities that only come when God is with a man.
   • Nicodemus came to Jesus by night and said, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles which thou doest, except God be with him. (John 3:1-2)
   • Acts 10:38 — How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

THE GRACE TO LAST — LONGEVITY OF IMPACT

The Holy Ghost quickened in me something that I don't teach very often, but I think is very relevant particularly for this conference. This has to do with the dynamics of longevity — the skill to remain, the grace, the capacity to last.

I found out in my little experience, my walk with God and the brief time in ministry:

• It takes vision to start.
• It takes discipline to continue.
• But it takes mercy to finish.

It takes vision and maybe motivation to start. It takes discipline to continue. But honestly, when the stakes are down, it is not a formula that finishes — it is the mercy of God.

I've seen people who got it all wrong and strangely they finished. I've seen people who got it all right and strangely they didn't finish. It is at this point that both the learned and the unlearned, both the gifted and not so gifted — we all tremble before his presence. When it has to do with the business of finishing, we are products of his mercy.

Albeit, there are principles that can guide a man and help you to finish strong.

Two key scriptures:

Hebrews 12:1-2 — Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Looking unto Jesus is not just a description to look up — it is the name of the strategy that guarantees that you finish.

1 Corinthians 9:24 — Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain.

Life and destiny is likened to a race. The Bible likens life to three things:

• A fight
• A race
• A treasure that a man can keep

Paul said, I have fought the fight. I have kept the faith. I have finished the race.

THE PREGNANCY ILLUSTRATION

From a biological standpoint, when a woman takes in and announces she's pregnant, everyone celebrates — but that's the beginning of a long journey.

If she loses the baby in two months, do you call it delivery? No — because it did not finish its course.

• The dynamics of receiving the seed is different from the dynamics of the entire period of pregnancy.
• Starting requires its own skill. Continuing requires its own skill.
• The easiest part of it is starting. Starting seems to be the most pleasurable part — but continuing is harder.
• And then finishing — there are people who continued but because there was carelessness at the end, they were not able to deliver.

KEY 1: BE STRONG IN THE LORD

Ephesians 6:10 — Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord. The Amplified says: Be strong in the Lord. Draw your strength from him and be empowered through your union with him and in the power of his boundless might.

This strength is a direct product of investing your life to know God. The God you know is the God you reveal to your generation. You cannot reveal a foreign God.

Daniel 11:32 — But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

• Confidence in this kingdom is derived from a functional relationship with God.
• Attempting to serve a theoretical God to a generation will leave you disappointed.
• Paul said, But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. He does not keep what is available — he keeps what is committed to him.
• Jesus said in John 17 — All you have given me, I have kept and none is lost.

The secret to intimacy is time. Time, not intention, not desire. Desire must match with time.

One of the benefits of walking with God is that it will prune your activities by bringing accuracy to your life. Ephesians 5 says walk circumspectly as wise and not as unwise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Time is redeemed by knowing the will of God early so that you don't shadow-box and have to return back.

The value of God's presence — what you miss when you miss his presence:

• The treasure of wisdom
• The treasure of favour
• The treasure of utterance
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Apostle Joshua Selman
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• The treasure of direction
• The treasure of accuracy and specificity

Man was designed to find his relevance in the presence of God. You cannot buy favour in any market — it is a resource that works on earth but is outsourced beyond this realm.

The moment his presence becomes secondary in your life — you will not go far.

He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High — to dwell is the word translated in English as marinate. When you want what is outside the source to get into the protein, you leave it there, close it, and drop it there.

• You stay till wisdom comes.
• You stay till fire comes.
• Many people get into his presence fasting and praying wanting power or wisdom. But you will never find it until you find him.
• God is raising men who want him — not what he gives.

The moment you focus on the tokens of his presence simply because you've seen the economic value of having those things, you will not go far.

Don't just admire the tokens of his presence. You must love him. You must want him.

Imagine coming to someone's house and all you are concerned about is their kitchen or their safe — not really interested in them. But there are times you can be so close to someone that without them asking, they will give you things — tokens of intimacy. This is the realm of true intimacy with God.

There are many things by the mercy of God that we have seen in our lives that were not part of our requests. When we got there we were grateful and sometimes shocked that God can go so far to show how much he loves us. It is him, not it.

David stood before Goliath. When he stood before him, Goliath said, Israel, am I a dog? You bring this little boy to fight me. I'm a veteran. I'm a giant. I'm a warrior. And David looked at him with audacity that only the knowledge of God brings. He said, You come against me with your bows, you come against me with your spears, but I come against you in a name. I will draw you down and use your own sword, remove your head and give it to the birds. There is a way you speak when you have met him. There is a way you cannot speak if you have not met him.

KEY 2: SUBMIT TO THE SUPREMACY OF THE WORD OF GOD

The second key — if you want to last — you must submit to the supremacy of the Word of God as final authority in your life, in every and all matters.

There is no lasting for a man who will mix the word with culture, opinions of men, or popular opinions.

You must submit to the supremacy of the Word of God:

• Above visions
• Above dreams
• Above prophecies
• Above gifts

It is written is greater than I saw. It is written is greater than I heard. When Satan came to Jesus, Jesus did not say I came from heaven. He said, It is written.

The secret of longevity is when you build upon that rock.

Colossians 1:16 — For by him were all things created. If the word created all things, it can create my destiny. It can create my tomorrow. The Word of God is a proven raw material — it stood the test of time.

When talking about the Word of God, there are three dimensions:

1. The Doctrine of Scripture

   • The Bible called it the apostles' doctrine — from the Latin doctrina, the Greek didascalia. It is a body of knowledge that makes a disciple to become like his master.
   • They continued in the apostles' doctrine, in fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)
   • Acts 6:4 — But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
   • Many people do not read their Bibles. You can read to preach and still not be growing.

2. The Principles of Scripture

   • The modus operandi of the kingdom.
   • 2 Timothy 3:15 — And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.
   • Acts 20:32 — And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

3. Meditating and Speaking the Word

   • There are four ways to engage scripture: study it, speak it, hear it, meditate on it.
   • Joshua 1:8 — This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.
   • The power to do comes from knowing, from staying. There is an engracing that your interaction with the Word brings to your life — it is called the doing grace. You don't get the doing grace if you don't stay with the word.

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Times will change. Opinions will come and go. Formulas will come and go. The longevity factor in any man's life is the Word of God.

If the Word cannot build your finances, nothing else will build it — it will only be balloon success. If the Word of God does not build your influence, there can be other formulas, but they will not last. Nevertheless, the foundation of the Lord standeth sure.

KEY 3: ALWAYS KEEP THE VISION OF YOUR DESTINATION BEFORE YOU

Philippians 3:13 — Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

You cannot arrive looking back. Remember Lot's wife. Nobody goes forward by consistently looking back.

By forgetting, it does not mean wipe it out of your memory. It means — break its influence over your capacity to move forward.

Both success and failure can do the same thing to a man:

• Success can make you complacent. Success can push you to the edge of compromise.
• Failure can discourage you.

Ultimately, both success and failure can destroy you. You must know how to manage them.

This one thing I do — it is a skill to forget the things that are behind. Once any event is in your yesterday, say thank you — and move forward.

If any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Nobody claps for you for the same level twice. Once you have received the applause for a level, it is finished. The first step is the one deserving of applause. After that, it becomes natural. When you fly, that's a new experience.

• Those who have been crawling — it's time to start walking.
• Those who have been walking — it's time to start flying.
• When you are flying, you don't worry about mountains. You don't worry about valleys. You don't worry about seas.

Beware of yesterday. Yesterday is very jealous. It always wants to relieve itself in your today. You must know when to wave it goodbye and insist that it waves you goodbye.

If you do not have the power to grow above distractions, you will not finish. Stop feeling guilty for being visionary.

A story — a man was climbing a very high palm tree. People on the ground were trying to talk him down, but he kept climbing, smiling. He got to the top. When he came down, they discovered he was deaf. That was why he finished. He thought their insults were encouragement.

The Bible says, He who has an ear — meaning you have the power to open that ear or close it.

Your guarantee is not a formula. Your guarantee is the God who sent you. Your guarantee is the word He gave you. Your guarantee is the vision He put before you.

Anyone who flies or drives knows that for 90 to 95% of the time, you never see where you are going. If you are driving from one city to another, for 95% of the journey you never see the destination — but you know you are going there.

THE THREE SEASONS BEFORE A MAN EMERGES

1. The Season of Preparation

   • Three things happen in this season:

     • Discovery of God
     • Discovery of yourself
     • Discovery of your assignment

2. The Season of Testing and Pruning

   • This is the season that prepares you to last.
   • You know where you are going but you don't have capacity to go there yet. If God releases you at that point, you become a casualty.
   • When He calls you, He says come, follow me. God does not call you to a mission field — He calls you to himself. Then He sends you.
   • When you come to him, He doesn't immediately give you an assignment. He reveals himself, breaks you, and molds you — all the flesh, the dust, the pride — the threshing floor. If you escape that season, your future will tell.
   • In the university, you can jump a few classes and read up during exams. In destiny, the class you miss, you will pay for it in the future.
   • The silence of God is a language. He's training you to walk by faith. The silence of God breaks your ego. It gets to a point where it's not about results again — that's what dethrones ambition and self.

3. The Season of Appearing

   • This is the season everybody knows — and so they disrespect the other two seasons.
   • Every time you see people emerge, they don't have to do anything new. The same thing you were doing yesterday will produce greater results — because it is your season.
   • John remained in the wilderness — not because he was wrong — but when it was his season, no devil could stop him.
   • Nobody comes from nowhere. Don't disrespect a man's mastery over Goliath simply because you weren't there when the lion and the bear were being killed. It took years of training alone.
   • This is the reason why we honour men when they come into their seasons. We honour the stamina, the dexterity, the staying power through seasons — until you sharpen your arrow with mastery and then you shoot once and don't miss.
   • 2 Timothy 2:5 — And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. Nobody wins the Olympics by mistake. Don't disrespect mastery — it is an aggregate of years of pain, of blood, of sweat.

KEY 4: STAY HUMBLE

Proverbs 16:18 — Pride goeth before destruction; and an haughty spirit before a fall.

There are two levels of pride to note:

• A haughty spirit — general pride
• The pride of life — this happens only when you have results. This is the self-glorification that comes based on the results that are now before you. And that's where the great die.

There is profound respect for great people who have mastered humility — because they will last.

Humility for the great is not an impartation. It's a science. You must create the atmosphere that keeps you humble. Sometimes denying things you sincerely deserve. Sometimes downplaying on certain levels of honour — so that it will keep you grounded.

There is what I call the curse of fame. It tilts you towards becoming a god — and you don't want to be on the side where God will judge you.

When God gives you a thing, once it becomes an idol — even if He was the one who gave it — He will fight it. God can fight what He once gave you. He watches your stewardship over it. If He is exalted Lord of all, that thing remains a blessing. The day it rises above him, it becomes a danger.

Anything God gives or makes out of a life — if it will demand him going out of that life to have it, may it never come. Because it will destroy.

KEY 5: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GOOD FRIENDS AND MENTORSHIP

To last, you cannot do it alone. You need the leverage of good friends and the leverage of mentorship.

What mentorship provides:

• The advantage of experience minus the pain factor — it extracts pain from wisdom and gives it to you.
• Strategic endorsement
• Access to distilled knowledge

How to identify a good friend:

• One who rejoices over your success — not just one who comforts you in pain.
• Comfort can be a responsibility. It doesn't necessarily mean love. But the one who genuinely invests in and celebrates your success — that is a good friend.

CLOSING DECLARATION AND ALTAR CALL

Many years from now, with Christ Jesus, you will still be standing. Your life will not be a negative lesson for anybody — in the name of Jesus Christ. People will not use your life to warn others. It will be an inspiration.