Thursday, February 26, 2015

Believing the Lie

One of the most sinister and subtle creatures in all of the universe is Satan, also known as the Devil. Satan is our arch-enemy, and as we go into this next season, we have to gain an understanding of how to fight and how to defeat the Enemy. Part of the key to defeating the Evil One is to stop believing the "lie."

The Devil is very tricky and deceitful. Jesus describes him as the father of lies (John 8). One of the greatest lies that he has told humanity that many people continue to believe, including members of the church, is the case of our Identity. People continue to define their identity based upon who they think they are. Whether that's their looks, or their talents, or their intelligence or their things, people think that what makes them "them" is connected to who they personally are. This is a mistake and lie from the Devil.

When God originally created man (male and female), He made it clear that He was constructing humanity out of His Image and His Likeness. The substance of man is found in the Identity of God. However, how many people do you know, including Christians, that build their identity and self-hood around the Image of God? Not the will of God, the Image of God. The reason I clarify the difference is because the biggest mistake of the church is that we focus more on trying to do what God tells us to do (in terms of His Commandments) rather than Being who He's called us to Be. Action grows out of being, not the other way around.

The lie that Satan has effectively deceived the bulk of humanity with is that you can be successful, and even serve God faithfully, while holding on to your personal identity. This is a lie. It's the very lie with which the Serpent deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). And it's the lie that the Devil "attempted" to deceive Jesus with. But Praise God he wasn't successful! That's why, when you study the account of Jesus' Satanic temptation in the Wilderness (Matthew 4), Satan would consistently start off by saying, "if you are the Son of God". He was challenging His Identity! And when you study Matthew 16, Jesus says to Peter, "get thee behind Me Satan" AFTER Jesus has asked the question "who do men say THAT I AM".

Saints, the Bible says that we are dead and our lives are hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3). No matter how spiritual you are, no matter how anointed you may be, no matter how faithful in ministry you've been, never forget to make sure to keep your identity and personhood rooted in the Person of Jesus Christ. Let us stop believing the lie.

Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, we ask You to touch our hearts and humble our spirits that we may understand that our identity is rooted in You. Deliver us Father from self. Even if it's a self that is not overtly sinful. Father, our plea today is that there be none of us and all of You. Mature us Father, that we will no longer be guilty of believing the lie. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Where Is the Love?

One of the things that God has explicitly commanded us to do as Christians and as children of God is to love. The Commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love thy neighbor as thyself (Mark 12).  The Scripture also states that without love, we are nothing (1Corinthians 13). So the question today is, "Where is the love?"

One of the mistakes that we've made in the Church is that, we too, have equated the substance of love with emotional sentimentality. So if we don't experience a particular "feeling," then we don't automatically associate that with love. This is incorrect. In order to appropriately and effectively follow the divine commandment of love, we must first understand the substance of what "love" is.

The Bible succinctly says that God is Love (1John 4). Therefore, the first thing we want to understand is that love is not an action first, it's a state of being that produces certain acts. Many people, in trying to love, focus more on behavior than they do being. This is a mistake. God is not an act. He is a Person. So the substance of love is God.

So, if we want to know where is the love, just ask, where is God? In order to identify and create love in our personal environments, in our homes, on our jobs, in our neighborhoods, even in our churches, we have to ask, "Where is God?" This is significant, because whether we're conscious of it or not, the level of God-consciousness and God-promotion in our society has severely diminished. But I'll make it personal for you. Does your family proactively pray together? Not you individually, together. 

What things are being organized in your neighborhood, on your block, in your suburb, that's significantly designed to promote God and to lift up the name of Jesus? At your church, what's the Praise Index of your congregation? Can 75% of your members be identified as "worshipers" or is it still just the remnant?

Generally, when we talk about love, we want to start with charitable acts and good deeds. No, no, no my friends. You want to know where is the love? We need to first start identifying, "Where is our God?"

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before Your Throne of Grace once again, asking You to have mercy on our souls. We confess Father that we have not been as diligent as we should be in fulfilling Your Divine Commandment to first love You and then to love one another. We ask Father that You renew our minds, and let us not just think of love in terms of good deeds and works, but in terms of the manifestation of Your Spirit, which allowed You to send Your only Begotten Son to die for the sins of the world. It is in His Name, the Mighty Name of Jesus, that we do pray, Amen.              

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

The Fear Factor

One of the challenges that affects many of our human relationships and interactions is the spirit of fear. God has clearly stated in His Word that He has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2Timothy 1). However, even though many Christians can quote this scripture, it doesn't prevent us from continuing to operate in what I'd like to call the fear factor. 

A lot of times, when people think about fear, they think about being scared or frightened, like in some scary movie or something of that nature. They think of some sort of anxiety build-up, caused primarily by a physical threat of some kind. These are, indeed, examples of fear, but not the kind of fear that needs to be addressed in regards to the fear factor. When you're operating in the fear that is not of God, you're operating primarily in Insecurity. There are many people that are insecure and aren't even fully conscious of it, and as a result, they operate in fear.

Why is this not of God? Because as a child of God, your faith should be of such that your security is derived from God. There's no need to be scared or insecure or filled with anxiety because you know in your heart and spirit that your security is rooted in Christ. This sounds good, but why don't we practice this?

To really understand the nature of insecurity and fear, you have to understand the root of what sponsors it. Insecurity grows out of an overwhelming sense of non-being. You only experience fear and anxiety when you encounter a situation that you feel you cannot handle or is beyond your personal resources. Of course this is natural, but it's not supernatural; that's why it's not of God. 

When your faith is appropriately set in God and in Christ, there is no situation and no circumstance that is overwhelming to you. Yes, it might be insurmountable for you personally, but not for your God! That's why the spirit of fear is not of God, because if your confidence is in Him, then you're not overwhelmed. Unless of course you feel like your circumstance is too much even for God. We don't want to go there do we?

Saints, the season for which we are about to enter requires that we relinquish and release the fear factor. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith, so that our reliance will be strictly on God and not on ourselves.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before Your Throne of Grace, asking Father that You have mercy on our souls. We confess today that too many times, we have operated in fear. Too many times, we've put too much confidence in ourselves. Too many times, we have not put all of our trust in You. We ask Father that You forgive us and that You deliver us from the fear factor. Let us decrease so that no matter what we're going through and no matter what You call us to, we can declare by faith, "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me." In Your Son Jesus Christ's Name we do pray, Amen.

Monday, February 23, 2015

The Dynamics of Sowing

The Scriptures clearly state, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6). Everybody, whether they are spiritual or not, sows seeds in some area of their lives. Whether we are conscious of it or not, the choices we make, the behaviors we engage in, the relationships we establish, the way we spend our money represent seeds that we sow in our lives.

What we often forget in reference to sowing seeds is that a crop is inevitable. The aforementioned scripture makes it plain, you will reap what you sow. However, the challenge with regulating our lives by this principle is our lack of understanding of the dynamics of sowing. Once you understand the dynamics of sowing, whether you're sowing good seeds or bad seeds, you'll have a better understanding of how the system works.

The principle that Christianity has often espoused is the concept of "Seed-Time-Harvest." A lot of times when I've heard this principle mentioned, it's like "seed-time" is one word; conceptually, this is incorrect. When it comes to the dynamics of sowing, you have three  distinct components: Seed, Time, and Harvest. It's the time component that gets us off track.

When a seed is placed in the ground, it takes time for it to bear fruit. In our microwave society, the challenge of having to wait for something to produce appears to be foreign to our spirit, even in the church. But patience is the key in embracing the dynamics of sowing.
There are many Christians right now that are frustrated. You've sown seeds financially, you've sown seeds sacrificially, you've sown seeds ministerially, and you're asking God "how long?"

Saints, understand what's going on, your seed is still germinating. And when a seed is still in germination, the process takes place UNDERGROUND.  You can't witness the activity of what's causing the seed to develop into what it's ordained to be, because the process is taking place underground, beneath the surface, underneath dirt.

That's why saints, when you're dealing with God, you have to have faith, because you're not going to be able to track the progress of the development and manifestation of the seeds you've sown. You've got to trust God that you will reap in due season (Galatians 6).

Saints, I want to declare to you today that our time has come. The season for manifestation and demonstration is upon us. So be patient and cast not away your confidence and hope in God (Hebrews 10). Don't give up and don't give out. If you're waiting for your harvest and the promises of God, remain patient and expectant to receive the fruit of the dynamics of dowing.

Prayer
Father in Heaven, we thank You for blessing us with the faith and obedience to sow seeds according to Your divine direction for our lives. We ask Father, in the name of Jesus, that you grant us the faith, the patience and the perseverance to trust that at Your appointed time, the promises we've received from You will manifest to the glory of thy Name. We claim it Father, and we count it done, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Study the Word

As we prepare for the Kingdom Movement that God is getting ready to release in the Earth, it is imperative that we are rooted and grounded in the Word. The days of being spiritually spoonfed are over. It's time for the Saints of God to move from spiritual baby-food to digesting spiritual meat (Hebrews 5). In order for this to happen, we must be Christians that are committed and devoted to studying the Word.

If you're a believer in Christ whose spiritual diet consists of a Sunday morning sermon from your pastor, I say to you, it's time to grow up. If you're a believer in Christ who reads the daily devotionals but doesn't directly read the Bible for yourself, I say to you, it's time to expand your spiritual horizons. Saints, we've got to get into the Word for ourselves. Yes, you want to listen to your pastor, yes you want to read devotionals and commentaries; but there are some things that God wants to say to you directly by you reading His Word for yourself.

If you are not an avid Bible reader, then the first thing that I want to suggest is that you make time to read the Bible EVERY DAY – not just on Sundays, not just for Sunday School, but every single day. 

When you start reading the Word on a daily basis, start with the Gospels. Start with the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This is significant because the Gospels talk about Jesus, who is the Person we have the relationship with. So start there. I recommend reading 10 to 15 minutes a day, or roughly two or three chapters a day.

After you've finished with the Gospels, read the Book of Proverbs, the Book of Wisdom. After that read the Book of Psalms, the book of Divine Poetry and Praise. After that you should be acclimated enough to reading the Word for yourself that the Holy Spirit can lead you from there. And remember, before you read the Bible, always pray. Ask God to speak to you. The Bible is not a history book, it's a Living Revelation from God that speaks to time and in time. Let us make sure to "Study the Word."

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we come before your throne of Grace, beseeching you Father that you will give us a greater hunger and thirst for your Word. Let us not be content to be spoonfed Christians, but let us dig into your Word for ourselves. Give us wisdom and divine direction as we diligently and daily explore the truths of your Word. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

A Call to War, Part 2

As we continue to discuss the topic of A Call to War, another area for which will be engaged in battle is our Faith. The Bible says that we should fight the good fight of faith (1Timothy 6). This means go to war; and if our faith is going to be protected and preserved, we're going to have to answer the Call to War.

This understanding is significant because one of the main things Satan wants to wipe out or diminish is your faith. If the Devil can rob you of your faith, he can rob you of your joy and your capacity to rejoice in the Lord and be obedient unto Him. So we must fight and war to preserve our faith in the Lord.

One of the ways that we do this is to not be overwhelmed by our circumstances. One of the things that trips a lot of Christians up is that they measure their ability to believe in God based upon the personal assessment of their individual situation and circumstances. This is a mistake. Satan will have a field day with you if he can get you to focus more on what's going on around you than He who rules above you. 

So, no matter what's going on in your life: sickness in your body, finances are low, relationships are rocky, stress, temptation; Declare "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world" (1John 4), "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4), "And we know, that all things work together for good, to them that love God and are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8). These are called Declarations of Faith, and what they are designed to do is to boost your faith so that you can focus more on the Word of God than you do on your temporal circumstances. In order to stand on these Declarations of Faith, you're going to have to build your faith. The Bible says that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10). 

Saints, I can't stress this enough, you've got to get into the Word of God. As a born again believer in Christ you need to be reading the Bible EVERY DAY. This is how you build up your spirit man and are able to walk by faith and not by sight (2Corinthians 5). May we continue to answer the "Call to War."

Prayer
Heavenly Father, by your grace, develop within me a soldier's mentality. Give me the spiritual tenacity and hunger to answer the "Call to War." Give me the grace to build up my faith. Give me the commitment to study your Word EVERY DAY. Give me the grace to walk by faith and not by sight; let me not focus on my circumstances but remain focused on You, Your Will and Your Purpose for my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

A Call to War

When I was on Sabbatical in 2013, the Lord said to me, "It's Time to Go to War." Saints, for the Season for which we are about to enter, it is imperative that we understand that we are going to war. This is not going to be a time of "spiritual peace." Yes, we will have that peace that passeth all understanding (Philippians 4). But in terms of waging war with the Devil, God is making a Call to War.

In order for us to answer this Call to War, we have to understand some of the areas for which the Battles are going to be waged. One of the areas we're going to have to go to War with is the Flesh. The Flesh is the sinful nature that we inherited from the Fall of Adam. Through the atoning work of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God has delivered us from the penalty of sin and the power of sin; but He has not delivered us from the presence of sin. Sin still dwells within our mortal bodies; and with that being the case, we must go to war.

The Scripture tells us to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul (1Peter 2). The Bible also states that the carnal mind (sinful nature) wars against the law of the mind, the propensity and inclination to do the will of God (Romans 7). Therefore Saints, we can't sit idly by and just "yield to the sinful nature" (Romans 6). We have to fight! How do we do that? By crucifixion of the flesh. The Scripture says that they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (Galatians 5). Crucifixion takes place on A CROSS.

Are you ready to go to war and crucify the flesh? Are you ready to allow the Holy Spirit to teach you how to die to self so that you are no longer enslaved to fleshly lusts and compulsions? Are you ready for the Lord to teach you how to mortify the deeds of the body (Colossians 3) so that you can be holy as He is Holy (1Peter 1)? If you are, then it's time to answer the "Call to War."

Prayer
Father in the name of Jesus, give me the grace, the faith and the courage to answer the Call to War. Let me not sit idly by and let the flesh have dominion in my soul. Teach me how to deny myself, teach me how to crucify the flesh. I declare today Father that I am crucified with Christ. I pray this prayer Father, in Jesus' name, Amen. 

Monday, February 16, 2015

A Soldier's Mentality

One of the things that has to be reinforced within the Body of Christ is that we are an Army. We sing a lot of songs about us being in the "army of the Lord", but I'm not sure that we've adopted a "soldier's mentality." Instead of acting like soldiers, a lot of us adopt the posture of Christian Civilians. We're not trying to get into the heat of the battle, we just want to stay in the House and enjoy the benefits of Heavenly Citizenship. Saints, for the Season that we are about to enter, God needs some saints with a "soldier's mentality."

In order to adopt this mentality, one of the first things we're going to have to embrace is Discipline. When you're a soldier in the army, your life is regulated and regimented. We must surrender and allow the Holy Spirit to regiment us to the Army of Christ. We must be disciplined physically: what we eat, sexual abstinence (if you're not married), proper exercise. We must be disciplined mentally and emotionally: monitoring what we look at and what we listen to, stretching our minds through reading, processing emotions and feelings that may need healing. We must be disciplined spiritually: reading the Word of God, developing a prayer life, fasting as the Spirit leads.

Finally saints, in order to have a "soldier's mentality," we must be willing to die. Any patriotic soldier is willing to die for their country. Are you willing to lay down your life for the Kingdom of God? Paul said that "I die daily" (I Corinthians 15). Jesus said that if a man tries to save his life, he will lose it (Matthew 16). There must now be a sense of reckless abandon and total death to self in order for the Kingdom of God to be a reality on earth as it is in Heaven. This my brothers and sisters, is a "soldier's mentality."

Prayer
Father in the name of Jesus, give me the grace to embrace a "soldier's mentality". Teach me Father how to deny myself, carry my cross and to follow thee. Let me live according to the motto, not my will but thy will be done. Create in me the commitment to die daily; that you may increase and I may decrease. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Faith vs. Feelings

Based upon the conditioning that many of us have received from our society, we've been taught to process things based upon how we feel. When it comes to personal perspective, a lot of our reality is contingent upon subjectivity and emotional disposition. The challenge with this way of thinking is that it is not of God.

When you base your perspective upon how you feel and what seems right to you, this is not of faith. The Bible clearly says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11). Therefore, there must be a shift that we must make to ensure that we're placing our faith above our feelings.

This is challenging because a lot of times, when God tells us to do something, it doesn't make sense. But the question that we have to raise is, "Whose sense are we talking about?" God's sense won't register with our sense; that's why a lot of times we think it's non-sense. But what we have to learn how to do is subject our feelings to our faith. How do you do that? By regulating your opinion and perspective on the Word of God. 

When Jesus was challenged to do battle with Satan in the wilderness, He didn't try to "rationalize" with the Devil; He simply responded with the Word of God. The Bible says that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10). Once you fill your heart, mind and spirit with the Word of God, then, instead of pulling from your past or your experience or your rationale, you can pull from the Word of God!

Please understand, this is not natural. That's why many Christians still don't operate this way. But if you're going to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5) it is imperative that we learn how to subject our feelings to our faith and be regulated by the Word of God.

Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, give me the grace to be regulated by faith in your Word. Teach me how to deny myself and deny my feelings so that your Word will rule and reign in my life. I declare today Father, not my will, but Thy Will be done. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Friday, February 13, 2015

Forgiveness, Part 2

As we continue the topic on forgiveness, let us ask the question, why is it so hard to forgive? Many Christians know that forgiveness is the "right thing to do," but deep down in our hearts we still find that there's resentment, bitterness, hatred, and anger against those who have hurt us and abused us in the past and even in the present. So how do we work through this?

Let us first establish that forgiveness is a decision, not a process. A lot of Christians think that it takes "time" to forgive. This is incorrect. Forgiveness does not take time, forgiveness is a decision. It takes time to "heal," but it doesn't take time to forgive. If somebody were to come up to me and hit me in the jaw and break my jaw (God forbid), it would be my responsibility to forgive that person "on the spot." However, it would take weeks, if not months, for my jaw to heal. The healing is a process that takes time, the forgiveness is an instant decision.

Just as I would have to heal physically from a broken jaw, I would also have to heal emotionally and psychologically from the trauma of such a painful experience. This is what a lot of Christians are experiencing; we're confusing the responsibility of forgiveness with the challenge of healing emotionally and mentally from the hurts of our past; which is a process and which takes time. So, if you haven't healed, then when you think about that person and that incident, those raw emotions and memories come back, and that pain sparks that anger and the resentment resurfaces. But when you forgive, it means you no longer hold anything against the person who hurt you or did you harm. In essence, you're letting them off the hook. Once you relinquish them from being held accountable for what happened to you, then you're free to heal from the pain you had to endure.

Now, if you haven't learned to forgive, then your visceral reaction is going to be, that's not fair. Really? Was it fair for Jesus Christ to die for your sins? Was it fair for a Man that did absolutely nothing wrong to be punished like and as a sinner? Was it fair for Jesus to have to leave the Glory of Heaven to come down in humility as a human and pay the price for your and my sin? Let's not talk about "fairness" as Christians!

And that's the point, Saints: It's not natural to forgive, it takes the Holy Spirit. But the motivation and commitment ought to be there because of the price that Jesus had to pay that we might receive forgiveness from the Father.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Forgiveness

One of the fundamental aspects of being a Christian and becoming a Christian is forgiveness. God the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, to the earth so that the sins of humanity could be forgiven. If there is no forgiveness, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, then we are not saved and are not reconciled back to God (Hebrews 9).

What we have to keep in mind as Christians is that the forgiveness of our sins is contingent upon our ability to forgive those who have sinned against us and have done us wrong. Jesus says very clearly that if we do not forgive those who sin against us, God the Father will not forgive our sins (Matthew 6). What this means in essence is that if you don't forgive others, then you forfeit your salvation. You cannot stay saved and remain in unforgiveness.

Why is this the case? Because it violates the very basis by which you received your forgiveness in the first place. We are saved by Grace (Ephesians 2). Grace is God's unconditional acceptance of us in spite of ourselves, which means that, as long as you have confessed Jesus as your Lord and Savior, all of your sins are forgiven – past, present and future (Romans 5). God's not waiting for you to ask for forgiveness; as a born-again believer your sins are already forgiven. Now someone may raise 1 John 3:8; this scripture is for one's fellowship with God, it's not the basis of one's "salvation from God."

So then, if God can forgive you for ALL the sins you've done AND DO (there's not a person reading this that has stopped sinning), based strictly upon the Blood of His Son Jesus, then what's keeping you from forgiving your brothers and sisters?  This is divinely unacceptable.

Saints, let's make sure that we're not putting our eternal destiny in jeopardy, and ask the Holy Spirit to work in us and on us so that we may forgive others as Christ has forgiven us.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Love Is Not An Option

In listening to an apostle yesterday, he made a statement for which I totally agree, he said that love is not an option. This is significant because a lot of times, particularly in the church, people tend to think that love is a choice; that I can either choose to love or choose not to love. This is incorrect. Love is not a choice, it's a commandment. God commands us to love. Therefore, love is not an option.

One of the reasons I believe this is a challenge for many believers is because we still associate love with a feeling. Love is not a feeling, it is a spirit and an attitudinal disposition that one intentionally adopts in their interaction with others. You don't have to "like" someone in order to love them. That's why Jesus exhorts us to love our enemies (Matthew 5). There aren't too many of your enemies that you're going to like, but God still commands us to love them.

Love is not about sentimentality. Love is understanding, reaching and securing. When you love someone, you take the time to understand where they are coming from. Then you attempt to reach them where they are, not where you think they ought to be. And then you secure them by addressing their needs and concerns. The perfect example of this is John 3:16:

For God so loved the world (He understood we were lost sinners) that He gave His only begotten Son (He reached us where we were); that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life (He secured us with Salvation and Eternal Life).

May we all continue to grow in grace, and understand that, as it relates to the Divine Will of God for our lives, love is not an option.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

It Was For Our Good

This month is recognized as Black History Month here in this country. We give God praise for the rich history for which God has blessed African-Americans in the development and progress of this nation. 

One of the sore spots for the history of America, and African-Americans in particular, was the institution of slavery. The degradation, the despair and the blatant disregard for human dignity was beyond reproach in regards to the witness of this nation. However, the question is, "How have African-Americans chosen to process this?"

Often when the issue of slavery in America comes up, Blacks (African-Americans) take deep offense to the dynamics of this brutality (as well we should). But the question that needs to be raised is, "What was God's divine purpose in allowing an entire group of people to endure this type of unmerited suffering?" There's a choice that African-Americans have to make as we progress through the 21st century; are we going to still be "mad at the white man" for the abuse our foreparents endured or are we going to forgive and seek to fulfill God's Divine Destiny in bringing us to this country?

In Genesis chapter 50, Joseph responds to his brothers (who sold him into slavery when he was a teenager) after the death of their father. The brothers thought that Joseph was going to be angry with them and seek revenge. But Joseph said to them, "Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good." It's time for Black America to forgive. We need to forgive America for slavery. We need to forgive America for Jim Crow. We need to forgive America for discrimination.  We need to forgive America for all of the injustices that we have endured as a people in this nation. The word, "forgive," literally means to release a debt. Which means, when you have truly forgiven nobody owes you anything.

As we celebrate African-American History Month, let us forsake the idea that "somebody owes us something." Let us release any lingering bitterness or hatred, even for recent events that have transpired over the last several months. Let us make a collective declaration and affirm, "You may have meant it for evil; but the God we serve meant it for good!" Let us pursue and fulfill our Divine Destiny in this nation with the faith that even slavery was for our good! (Romans 8:28).

Monday, February 9, 2015

A Prayer for Repentance

Saints, we have reached a point in the history of America where the church is being called to intercede on behalf of this nation. Whether we recognize it or not, this country is in grave danger. Why? Because we have turned our backs on God. 

This nation was founded by Jehovah so that His people would have a place to freely worship Him. And instead of taking advantage of this tremendous opportunity and Divine privilege, we've turned to other gods.

God is not pleased with what is going on in America. He's not pleased with our national embracing of abortion. He's not pleased with our popular consensus of same-sex marriage. God the Father is not pleased with our easy compliance with divorce. God is not pleased with the number of fatherless children who are being abandoned in our society. The Father is not pleased, and He has given us space to repent, but we have not (Revelation 2).

If America does not "turn from her wicked ways," the Judgment of God is inevitable. Saints, God has given us the authority to turn this around. We need to pray that God would release a "spirit of repentance" upon America. We need to plead the blood of Jesus over our nation. If the people of God will intercede on behalf of the United States of America, plead the blood of Jesus over this nation, and ask God to release a spirit of repentance; then I believe that God will have mercy on our country and "heal the land" (2 Chronicles 7).

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Children of God vs. Sons of God

Generally, when someone is identified as a Christian, that person is recognized as a "child of God." When referring to the Body of Christ, the born-again believers in Christ Jesus, we are often called "children of God." This, of course, is correct; but this is not the only nomenclature for which the Father wants His people to be defined. It is not the divine will of God for us as Christians to "remain" children of God (Ephesians 4). At some point, God wants us to grow up and become "sons of God."

Let me state very quickly that the term, "sons of God," is a gender-neutral term. Even though the word, "son," has a male connotation, a son of God is not about gender, it's about office. For instance, if a woman were President of the United States, she wouldn't be called "presidentess." The Office is the "President," regardless of the gender of the individual holding the office. Such is the case with the term ,"son of God".

There is a distinction between being a "child of God" and a son of God. In order to be recognized as a child of God, all you have to do is be born again, through faith in Jesus Christ, by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (John 3). In order to be a son of God, you have to walk in spiritual maturity (Galatians 4). In order to be a son of God, you can't just be born of the Spirit, you have to be led by the Spirit (Romans 8).

Saints, it's time that we as the people of God "grow up" and mature into Divine Sonship. Whether you are a man or a woman is irrelevant. God is looking for a people now that will walk in the power of sonship and usher in the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ's return. This will require sanctification, consecration and purification. However, it will result in the demonstration of supernatural power that will literally transform the world. Are you ready to walk in sonship? Remember, the whole creation groaneth, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8).

Friday, February 6, 2015

A Consciousness of Heaven, Part 3

As we continue to explore the Consciousness of Heaven, we want to begin to examine some of the dynamics for which this consciousness creates. Whenever a person is from a "foreign country," there are certain cultural characteristics that they're going to possess that distinguish them from those who were born in that particular nation. Things such as language, dress, foods they eat, etc.

The same should be the case with the Church. Heaven carries with it a particular "culture." And those who carry a Consciousness of Heaven will exhibit the traits of that culture. One of the first traits is Supernatural Power. The mainstream Church needs to understand that God did not create humanity to live in the Natural, He made us to operate in the Supernatural. Human limitations, restrictions and finitude is a result of the Fall; it does not represent God's original design for humanity nor this Earth. When you get to Heaven (presuming you get there) you'll find that everything is Supernatural. Why? Because the entire environment is charged by the Glory of God. People fly in Heaven. Nobody is sick in Heaven. People don't hold their breath under water in Heaven. So if it's that way in Heaven, why not here on Earth? Because of our lack of Heaven Consciousness. That's why Jesus is the Model, not just for the church but for Humanity. We're "supposed" to walk on water. We're "supposed" to be able to raise the dead. We're "supposed" to be able to turn water into wine. Why? Because that's what the Consciousness of Heaven produces.

But the greatest attribute of the Consciousness of Heaven is Love. This is more of a mystery than anything else because the Bible clearly states that God is Love (I John 4). We often forget that we are made in the Image of God. In Heaven, it is saturated with the Love of God. A Love that exceeds human comprehension and imagination. As we strive for the Consciousness of Heaven, let us press into what Heaven and the reality thereof is really all about, The Eternal Love of God.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

A Consciousness of Heaven, Part 2

In continuing the discussion about Heaven, let us remember that Heaven is real and is supposed to directly affect our lives here on earth. Our responsibility as Christians is to make the reality of Heaven the reality of the Earth. One of the ways that we can better do that is to remember where we come from.

Many of us still believe that we come from the Earth. Wrong. No saints, we come from Heaven. Remember, the essence of our being is spirit. God is a Spirit. All human creation comes from God. Therefore, your origin is Heaven, not Earth. God does not reside in the Earth, His Throne is in Heaven (Isaiah 66).

With this in mind, too many of us have grown too comfortable on this planet. Earth is not our home. We are pilgrims and strangers. A friend of mine once asked the question, "If Christians are just pilgrims passing through, then why are we carrying so much luggage?"  We should be acting like "spiritual aliens." There ought to be something about us and within us that says, "I just don't feel right down here, I want to go Home."

Needless to say, this is not the mind-set, I would say, of many Christians. And that saints, is part of the problem. We have to get reconnected to our heavenly roots. We have to operate in this earthly pilgrimage with the understanding that Heaven is not simply our Eternal Destination, it's also our Divine Heritage. We must continue to cultivate a Consciousness of Heaven.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

A Consciousness of Heaven

As we prepare to experience one of the greatest moves of God to ever hit the Earth, it is imperative that we have a proper understanding of Heaven. For many people, including Christians, Heaven is simply some ethereal place that you go to after you die if you've been "good enough." Christians don't put enough emphasis on the reality of Heaven, and its centrality in our faith and ability to complete and fulfill God's will and purpose for our lives.

The first thing we want to understand is that Heaven is real. Most of us probably feel like we already know that. Well then, if that is true, how much of Heaven's resources are you accessing on a daily basis? That's what I'm saying. Heaven is not about "bye and bye, in the sky, when I die." Heaven is a real place that is supposed to directly affect how we live here on Earth.

We also need to understand that Heaven is a specific geographical location that actually serves as the blueprint for the Earth. Just like Mars is a place, Saturn is a place, Jupiter is a place, Venus is a place; Heaven is a place. There are people there, mountains, snow, streets, rivers, houses, pianos, it's a real place.

The responsibility of the Christian is to make the reality of Heaven the reality on earth. That's why Jesus taught the disciples to pray, "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6). The reality of Heaven is what God originally designed for the earth. It's the responsibility of  the church to restore that Divine Reality. We will be ill-equipped to do that if we don't function with a Consciousness of Heaven.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

From Lust to Love

One of the challenges many Christians have is negotiating the dynamics of what we call, "the flesh." When referring to the flesh, we're not talking about one's physical body. We're talking about the sinful nature that every human being inherited from Adam (Romans 5). Because of the sinful nature, even as Christians,  a lot of times we end up doing wrong, even when we know what's right (Romans 7)This dynamic of the flesh even affects our relationships.

Many times when we think we're "in love," it's really not love, it's lust. In Galatians chapter 5, the scripture states that the flesh is comprised of affections and lusts. It's the affections of the flesh that really fools us. Affections can be defined as "energy and passion directed towards something or someone with the intent of reinforcing one's significance, self-worth and self-esteem." So when you find yourself "falling in love," you could actually be having feelings that are flesh-driven, regulated by sinful affections.

The way to know whether or not your feelings are flesh-driven or love-oriented is your motivation. As you interact with an individual, are you motivated more by what it does for them or what it does for you? As the relationship unfolds, are you happier about the things you get or the things you give? When it comes to disputes and disagreements, are you upset when you don't get your way or are you ok when the other person gets what they want at the sacrifice of your own personal desire?

Love is Selfless, lust is Selfish. It's time for the Church to mature, and make sure that our relationships are transitioning from lust to love.