Standing On Business

Pre-Introduction

Prayer

Dear Father, Speak to our hearts, for we are listening, In Jesus name, Amen.

Introduction

In 2023, the artist by the name of Drake released a song on his “For All the Dogs” album that mentioned repeatedly the phrase standing on business. As a result, this sparked a surge of attention towards this phrase and many people started using this statement all over. 

So much so that celebrities and athletes started to use the phrase repeatedly in interviews, games, and social media posts. 

Now, the statement standing on business is not a new phrase or saying. Within the African American Vernacular, this statement has existed for a long time. However, due to the powers of popularity and social media, this statement became a front-and-center attention grabber.

Pause…

The statement standing on business simply means, "To take care of your business/obligations or when faced with a situation you handle what you gotta handle.”In other words, standing on business is when you put your money where your mouth is.

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But what’s interesting is that as popular as the phrase became it took another leap when internet comedian, Druski took to TikTok his skits entitled “Dudes Say Standin on Business but do the opposite.”

These skits accelerated and created a substantial spread of this “standing on business” statement, greatly because many people could relate to the realities of how so many people act like they stand on business but when the rubber meets the road, people back out. 

You’ve seen it before, where that dude who’s been talking all that trash about when he sees a certain person how he is going to do this or that, and then he sees that person, and all of a sudden he turns into Stevie Wonder and can’t even see them because he ain’t bout that life.

Or that one time when you mustard up the unsatisfied courage to talk back to your parents and as soon as you saw the belt or whatever item was closest to them you switched up real quick.

See these skits from Druski skyrocketed the statement “standing on business” because it showed the reality that more than often we don’t really stand on business. We like to talk a big talk but don’t have no bite. 

And if we keep it a buck in the house of God, many of us in here can scan through our past months, weeks, and even days and find that we ain’t been standing on no business. 

Now excuse my vernacular, I’m just a country preacher…

But I believe it’s time to deal with ourselves today. We need to be honest with ourselves today because there is some business that the Lord has allowed to cross our paths, and the truth of the matter is that we’ve avoided it not knowing how God has been trying to bless us with it. 

See many of us don’t recognize it but the reason why many of us are not standing on business is because the situations we are facing will take us out of our comfort zones. 

See we’ve come across situations that have brought fear and a spirit of being overwhelmed. 

But the reality that you and I have to start recognizing is that God is actually trying to remove us from what makes us comfortable so that we can experience what is providential. 

Imma say that one more time… God is actually trying to remove us from what makes us comfortable so that we can experience what is providential.

See there are some major blessings and opportunities that God has placed in our pathway, but if we are not willing to stand on business, we are delaying and in some cases eliminating ourselves from receiving them. 

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That’s why I’m inspired by Frederick Douglass. He once stated the famous quote that says, “Where there is no struggle, there is no progress.” 

See in order to appreciate this quote, we have to understand what struggle meant for him. See Frederick Douglass, born in February 1818 to a slave woman and an unknown white man experienced major trauma and anguish. 

He only saw his mother 4 or 5 times before she died when he was young and as a child, he witnessed firsthand brutal whippings and spent many times hungry and cold.

Douglass ended up going to Maryland for a few years and there he was introduced to the alphabet by the slaveowner’s wife. 

But when the slaveowner found out he told her not to teach Douglass anything else due to the reality that an educated slave is hard to contain, brainwash, and oppress.

That’s a sermon for another day…

But after living a few years in the Maryland area, he was sent back to the country where he was hired by a notorious and brutal slave breaker named Edward Covey.

In this reality, Frederick Douglass was beaten daily and barely fed. As a result, Douglass was broken in body, spirit, and soul. He decided he had to escape but after his plan was discovered he was jailed for two years. 

Following the two years, Frederick Douglass dream came true, he fled and ended up in New York where he married and strived for a better life through education. 

Douglass became one of the most influential and pivotal liberators of his time. Through all that he went through, he showed the meaning of standing on business. 

Because once again as he stated, “Where there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

And church family, the truth is that you and I have to be more open and willing to stand on business in our spiritual lives, which will drive us to make a greater impact in our everyday lives. 

See one of the most dangerous things that can take place in a person’s life is be in the position of comfort or complacency.

By human nature, we are prone to believe that the more comfortable we are the more pleasurable or gratifying life will become or can be. 

Every day there are millions of people seemingly searching to find a place of comfort and ease.

See I don’t know too many people who wake up asking for a day of hardship and difficulty. I don’t know too many people who voluntarily desire to experience struggle on a day-to-day basis.

But if you live this life long enough you will learn that our growth in life comes from places of discomfort and disruption. It is in the seasons of life where things are out of control and overwhelming that we find strength and perseverance.

It is the growing of our standing on business muscle if you will. 

And here in 1 Samuel 17 I believe we see both sides of the coin as on one side, there is an exposure of the effects of complacency and comfort but on the other side, there is a canvas painting of what it means to stand on business. 

Here in 1 Samuel 17 we are escorted into the opening scene of a dramatic battle story. See here we have the Philistines vs. the Israelites. And as we watch this scene unfold, we notice that these two armies are in the motion of preparing to fight.

Here in the first 11 verses of the chapter, we learn that this battle ends up becoming a staring match. See Israel who are God’s people find themselves hesitating because they take a good look at their opponent and recognize that they did not prepare for the Philistines’ secret weapon.

See if you’ve read your Bible you will notice that this isn’t the first time these two armies have fought but this time Israel is caught off guard for there is a Giant named Goliath leading the Philistine team and he is ferocious in size and verbally vicious.

This giant challenges Israel to choose their alpha male to meet him and come fight.

And the Bible says that when this giant challenges the Israelites, they become greatly afraid. In other words they weren’t about that standing on business life. 

Israel essentially, because of their fear calls an audible in the game plan and starts trying to stall.  

Now what caught my attention in the text was not completely the fear in Israel but rather the location of Israel. See verse 3 I found a very intriguing verse. See the imagery gives us a picture that both armies are on a mountain and between them is a valley.

And I just want to suggest something here.

See when I read verse 3 in the context of these first 11 verses, I wrote down an observation and that observation or question went like this… Was Israel’s avoidance or lack of motivation to fight, attributed to their fear, or could it also be a sign of their comfort?

Just stick with me here…

See as I read and studied this I started feeling more and more tension in the fact that they were on a mountain with a valley in between them and I wondered were they unwilling to go into the valley not only because of fear but because it was more comfortable and assuring to stay on the mountain.

See as long as Israel stayed on the mountain all Goliath can do is talk trash. 

See staying on the mountain afforded Israel the opportunity to still call themselves winners. 

Staying on the mountain allowed them to stay safe. 

Staying on the mountain allowed them to have some sense of control.

But notice that their comfort on the mountain doesn’t lead them to make any progress or growth. Because progress or growth doesn’t come by playing things safe. You don’t defeat giants by hiding in comfort.

You cannot find your way to success by avoiding taking risks.

And I just want to stay right there because there might be someone listening to me right now and God has put something special on the inside of you but you haven’t been standing on business because you are afraid to get off the mountain and take risks in the valley.

And as a result, you have not reached the full potential that God has set up in your life.

And I just want to encourage you that staying in comfort won’t lead you to victory.

Staying in comfort won’t lead you to progress. 

Staying in comfort won’t lead you to growth.

Let me come a little closer to your living room…

Staying on the mountain of comfort won’t lead you to starting that business that God put in your heart years ago,

Staying on the mountain of comfort won’t lead you to getting that promotion you’ve been praying for,

Staying on the mountain of comfort won’t lead you to reconciliation with your spouse or your children.

It is when we are willing to take risks and go down into the valley and face the Goliaths in our lives that we find strength, growth, and progress in our lives.

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So, then the question must be asked today, Why should we stand on business and face our valleys?

I believe this story in its entirety gives us the syllabus to this question and I want to pull out two observations found here for our consumption today. 

The first reason we should stand on business and face our valleys is because…

1. Valleys Prepare us for Valleys

Now before I go too far, I don’t want to give you a bad picture of mountains. Please don’t misunderstand me. There is a purpose for the mountain. And we must understand the value of the mountain.

See the problem for too many of us is once we’ve arrived at the mountain, we lose the whole purpose of our position on the mountain.

See understand that God will lead us to mountains, but His purpose is not for us to get comfortable while we are there. See we have to understand that while we are on the mountain there are giants waiting to destroy us.

And God in His all-knowingness gives us a place of advantage by escorting us to the mountain.

What you talking about preacher?

See God did not place you on the mountain because you made it; He placed you on the mountain so that you can have an advantage over your giants.

See as we read in this chapter, while Israel is comfortable on the mountain there is this boy named David that shows up on the scene. And David is a little unusual.  

See David’s job was to fulfill the Israelites’ Uber eats purchase of cheese crackers and butter biscuits but as he is delivering this package, he looks at the TV screen and sees the interviews of Goliath on Good Morning Israel and CNN… And all Goliath is doing is talking trash and calling out the weakness of his Israel.

And David hears the words of Goliath as he calls and begs in arrogance for someone to come fight him. And David I can imagine swipes up on his iPhone and researches Israel’s IG page to see what’s been going on. And I could imagine David finds IG reels and TikTok videos that show how Israel is afraid to fight this giant but also, enjoying the comforts of the mountain.

So, David finds himself willing to go down into the valley with this giant and take him on himself.

And as you read in the chapter, David goes to King Saul and says, I’ll fight the giant if no one is willing to go. And Saul takes David’s courage comically as he response to Davis by saying there is no way you can defeat this giant. Have you seen yourself lately?

And I just want to pause right here and say to you this… Don’t allow other people to undermine your value. If God has put something inside of you, don’t allow others to talk it out of you.

See you can’t expect safe and comfortable people to subscribe to your risk and your faith.

And too often we allow people who ain’t doing nothing to discourage us from doing something.

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But look at what David does in response.

David runs through his resume because his resume shows that he is use to standing on business in the valley.

I feel like preaching…

See David goes into testimony time and says, don’t get this Uber eats polo twisted, this is just a side hustle, but my full-time job is being a Shepherd. 

And I’ve fought lions and bears to keep my sheep safe because God’s power strengthened me, and He protected me from those harms and dangers so I know He will do it for me again.

See essentially David reflects on past valleys that the Lord brought him through to prepare him for this valley that he is about to go through.

See Valley’s prepare you for Valley’s!

Let me break it down this way… 

(Oakwood Spiritual Retreat Illustration)

See what we learned was that the mountain was not a place of residence, it was a place of reflection. 

See the mountain was designed for us to see what we overcame. 

Essentially, the mountain gives us a different perspective.

And I want to encourage you today that the mountain is not about you, it’s not about being comfortable or complacent, the mountain is a sign that I‘ve been in the valley before and if God carried me the last time, I know He will carry me through the next time!

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See the mountain is just designed for you to see a different perspective of God. It’s designed for you to see how powerful your God is. It’s designed for you to look over and review what God has done for you.

See when you look over the mountain you can’t help but say, He’s a bridge over troubled water,

When you look over the mountain you can’t help but say, He’s a way out of no way,

When you look over the mountain you can say, Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

When you look over the mountain you can say, I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see,

When you look over the mountain you can say, My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ my righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name,

When you look over the mountain you can say, for it reaches to the highest mountain and it flows to the lowest valley, the Blood that gives me strength from day to day, will NEVER lose it power!

And I dare you to take some time in this sanctuary right now and give God some praise for the valleys you’ve overcome!

Pause

So, we should stand on business and face our valleys, because…

Firstly, that valleys prepare us for valleys.

But secondly, we should stand on business and face our valleys because…

2. Valleys Equip us for Valleys

See there is another thing I noticed here in 1 Samuel 17. Perhaps, Israel was also afraid of fighting because they did not believe they possessed what they needed to win this battle.

And this is important for us to understand because we have been called by God to stand on His business and get into the valley to do His will. 

But the truth of the matter is that many of us may be afraid to go to the valley because we don’t think we are equipped to handle what is waiting for us in the valley.

But we must understand God does not bring us to valleys without having a plan on how we can get through the valley. See we have to think like this… if God has sent us to the valley it must give us the impression that He knows what we need for the valley.

See check this out and then I’m gonna sit down… 

See God showed me something intriguing in the 40th verse of chapter 17. See in verse 40 we see that David finds and gathers five stones.

How many stones??? 5 stones…

Now many have overlooked this because the highlight in this chapter in most cases has seemed to be the fact that David killed Goliath, but can I bring your attention to something else?

See you must understand the context of verse 40, for the Bible says that David gathers five stones from a stream or a brook. Now when I was reading 1 Samuel, I couldn’t help but notice the distinct imagery the writer is displaying here.

See, as I read verse 40 in chapter 17, I couldn’t help but ask why does the author insert that David grabs five stones from a stream. Why is this explained to us and why is it significant?

So I did some study and what I found was this…

The Hebrew word used here for brook or stream is the term (Nach-al) which means, a torrent-valley.

In other words, the brook or stream where David finds his stones are positioned in the valley.

Don’t miss this…

Notice, that David does not go to the valley with a weapon. 

Yall missed that…

See David does not go to the valley with a weapon…

See David does not find what will kill his giant until he goes to the valley. See David’s source of overcoming this giant is not accessible or found until he got in the valley.

See perhaps many of us can’t stand on business and defeat our giants because the weapons formed to defeat them are in the valley. 

And while we are afraid on the mountain, complaining and whining to God, God is trying to show us that the answer is in the valley.

Because the Valley equips us for the Valley!

Oh y’all not with me, let me close like this…

(Kobe being like Mike illustration)

And I just came by to let someone at Compton Community know today, that it’s time to stand on business!! Because Kobe Bryant wasn’t the only one who understood this reality.

For the Bible shows us that Jesus stood on business.

Tune Up!!!!

For the Bible says, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whomever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life!

See they put nails in His hands, and nails in His feet, and a spear in His side and He hung His head and died.

Then they took my Jesus off of the mountain and put Him in the valley of a borrowed tomb, but like I said the valley is there to equip you because early Sunday morning Jesus woke up from his good nap and got up with all power in His hands!

See Jesus stood on business for He said I will lay my life down and I will pick it back up again!

And I just want to know is there anybody who don’t mind giving God praise!!! 

Is there anybody at Compton Community who don’t mind telling the Lord, I’m ready to stand on business! 

I’m ready to face my valleys!

For the Bible says, He shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory,

The Bible says, He who began a good work in you, will perform it till the day of Jesus Christ,

My Bible says, He’s the rose of Sharon; He’s the lily of the Valley,

My Bible says, No weapon formed against me, shall be able to prosper,

My Bible says, Ye though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me!

My Bible says, If God before me, who can be against me.

My Bible says, Greater is He that is in me, thank he that is in the world,

The Bible says, all things work together for the good of those who love Christ Jesus,

The Bible says, the battle is not yours, it’s the Lord,

The Bible says, He never leave you, nor forsake you,

The Bible says, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as an eagle. They shall walk and not be weary, they shall run and not faint. 

It’s time to stand on business and face the valley!!

Because if you have Jesus, then that’s all you need!

Has anybody on here ever experienced Jesus?

Come on and give God a great praise!!

For the Bible says, let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

In other words, if He woke you up this morning then Say so,

if He’s provided for you, Say so,

If He’s dried your tears, Say so, 

If He’s made ways out of no way, then Say so,

If He’s open doors that you couldn’t see, then Say so!

Because if God has done it before then He can do it again!

Somebody say YES!!!!

Main Points

1. Valleys Prepares us for Valleys

2. Valleys Equip us for Valleys