Good Works vs.The Works of God

One of the distinctions that needs to be made as we move into this next season is the difference between "good works" and the "works of God." There are a lot of people and a lot of organizations that do a lot of good things for people, for the community, for the poor, for the needy. These various works are commendable and noteworthy. However, they don't necessarily represent the works of God.

A lot of the charitable works that organizations do cannot necessarily be recognized as the works of God because they're not done in His Name and they're not done for His Glory. If you know anything about God, He is a Jealous God and is very stingy when it comes to His Glory. He will not share His Glory with another. Therefore, when examining whether something represents "good" or "God," these are criteria that have to be taken into account.

With this in mind, we must then ask the question: "Are all the works that are done in the church the works of God?" You would think so, given that the deeds of the church are done "in His Name." However, this is not always the case. Jesus made it very clear that there are works, even miraculous works, that are being done in His Name that don't necessarily represent the works of God (Matthew 7). Why is this the case? Because God looks at the heart. You can do something, supposedly, "in His Name," but be doing it for your glory and your credit. There are too many people, particularly ministers, using the platform of the Gospel for their own fame, fortune and notoriety. This is not the will of God.

As we press into the next move of God, let us not be deceived by those who do good deeds and do good works, but don't lift up the Name of Jesus nor commit to the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Let us also not be deceived by those who claim to work in the Kingdom but are more about building their own kingdoms. Let us pray for a spirit of discernment to distinguish between "good works" and the "works of God."

Keeping Up With God

One of the things that needs to be established about the God we serve is that God is a God of movement. He's not a stationary God, He's a missionary God. He's always moving and He's always working. With this being the case, the Father expects His children to always be on the move as well. We're not talking about "just staying busy." We're talking about what Jesus said at 12 years old, "being about His Father's business" (Luke 2).

The reason why this is significant is because it's easy to go into a state of spiritual complacency. Once you've done something for so long, and experienced a reasonable amount of success, you can fall into the trap of resting on your spiritual laurels and find contentment in that particular place with God. This is deception. There's never a place of "arrival" in God. Yes, He wants us to rest in Him and labor to enter that rest (Matthew 11, Hebrews 4). But at the same time, He wants us to always to keep pressing into His will and pressing into His Presence.

Saints, there are too many churches and too many congregations that have grown content with where they are in Christ. Worship services have become predictable, praise and worship have become regulated, preaching and sermons have become monitored. Many churches are no longer reaching to come out of their "comfort zone." They're no longer anticipating a move of the Spirit beyond what they're used to. This attitude, my friends, is not of God.

God is doing a new thing. And the only way you're going to be in position to receive is to develop a sense of expectation for it. Don't fall into a spiritual rut. Don't let your time with God and devotion in the Spirit be reduced to just "going through the motions." Be receptive to the new thing that God is doing in your life and with His people. Don't become spiritually slothful, make sure that you're keeping up with God.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we ask that You wake us up in the Spirit. If we have grown complacent and slothful in our relationship with You, we ask that You have mercy on our souls and forgive us for this sin. We acknowledge Father the new thing that You're doing in the earth and amongst Your people. We ask Father, by Your Grace, that You allow us to participate in the Kingdom Agenda that You have ordained for Your elect and Your chosen. Give us discernment, give us focus, give us an ear to hear and a heart to receive. And we'll be careful Father to give You all of the Praise. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.

Deliverance from Competition

America is known for its spirit of competition. Whether it's in the area of commerce, or business, sports and even politics, our country thrives on the thrill of competition. There may be such a thing as "healthy competition," but this spirit has no place in the Body of Christ. Unfortunately, this spirit of competition has found its way in the church, and it is serving as a distraction from focusing on and building the Kingdom of God.

A spirit of competition grows out of a spirit of comparison. One of the problems with the church is that we spend too much time "comparing" ourselves with one another and thereby fostering the spirit of competition amongst the believers. We compare our congregations, who has the most members. We compare our sanctuaries, who has the biggest church. We compare our preachers, whose pastor can "preach the best." We even compare our relationship with God, who is the most "spiritual." None of this is of God. But it all grows out of the spirit of competition, which leads to a spirit of comparison.

There's nothing wrong with being "the best." But being the best doesn't have to be about being "better" than somebody else. Being the best means being the best that you can be and being the best that God has called you to be. If you're focused on being the best that God has called you to be, then you won't have the capacity to compare yourself with the next believer, or the next preacher, or the next congregation. You'll simply be focused on fulfilling the question, "Lord, what would you have me to do?"

Saints, let us not be deceived by the spirit of this culture. Let's grow up in the Spirit and get beyond self-comparisons with others and trying to be "better" or as good as someone else. Let's focus on what God has called us to do, who He's called us to be, and receive deliverance from the spirit of competition.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we ask Father that You deliver us from a spirit of competition. Father, let our self-esteem and self-worth grow out of our identification of who You've called us to be in Christ Jesus. Take our eyes off this brother and that sister, what You're doing with them and how You're blessing them. Give us a spirit of contentment and dedication to those things for which You've called us to do, and let our primary focus be to please You. We love you Father, and we count it done, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

A Wake Up Call!

Several years ago, the great film producer, Spike Lee, made a movie entitled, "School Daze." One of the scenes at the end of the movie, was of a young man who was shouting on the campus, "WAKE UP!!!!!"

Saints, that's what time it is in our world, and that is particularly what time it is in our nation. It is time for America to "Wake Up!"

Our country has become dormant when it comes to issues of faith, ethical issues of character and integrity, the difference between what is right and what is wrong, issues of justice and more than anything else, issues pertaining to the Divine Will of God. This nation has forgotten that America was founded to be a Christian nation. Whether the masses realize it or not, this nation belongs to God! America is supposed to be a God-fearing nation that serves as a Witness for the rest of the world.

Needless to say, America is failing to be the witness that God has ordained us to be. As a result of our spiritual negligence and delinquency, a Wake Up Call is in order. God is ready to reclaim America and receive on the Investment that He has made in our country for over four centuries. God is not going to continue to let America operate in a state of spiritual slumber. A Divine Wake Up Call is in order.

What can the church do, as God prepares to shake America from her spiritual stupor? We can get our "house" in order. As believers in Christ and children of God, we need to be as vigilant and diligent in regards to our relationship with God than ever before. It's time to make the "crooked places straight and the rough places plain" (Isaiah 40). It's time for us to "lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us" (Hebrews 12). It's time to sell out to God! No more spiritual mediocrity, no more lukewarm worship and praise (Revelation 3). It's time to get on fire for God!

Remember Saints, the judgment of God begins at the House of God (1Peter 4). There are plenty of Christians that need a Wake Up Call as well. Let's not be those whom God has to shake up to wake up. Let's be sober-minded and submit to God's Divine Will and Order for our lives.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray that You would release a Spirit of Repentance upon America. Give us a spirit to turn from our wicked ways. Give us a spirit to return to You in love and obedience. Give us the Grace to receive, nationally, Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. We bless Your name Father, and we give You all of the praise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Humility and Meekness

Preachers and pastors 
can sometimes be 
arrogant and proud.

As we prepare to experience one of the greatest moves of God the earth has ever seen, it's imperative that we embrace the proper character and posture to participate in the establishment of God's Kingdom in the earth. In order for us to effectively and consistently be used by God to advance His Kingdom and to glorify His Name, we have to adopt humility and meekness.

One of the biggest turn-offs to people in the world regarding the church is the level of arrogance and pride that seems to infiltrate the church. Unfortunately, sometimes, some of the most arrogant people in the church can be preachers. The word, "minister," means "servant;" but a lot of times pastors and preachers act like we're "lording" the church, not serving the church. This is not of God. 

The gifts and callings of God are without repentance (Romans 11), but in order to partner with God in the advancement of His Kingdom, a spirit of pride and arrogance can disqualify you (Matthew 22).

Humility and meekness are core traits necessary to work with God in the advancement of His Kingdom. To demonstrate humility requires a posture and attitude of modesty, lowliness and insignificance. No one should ever let their title or position define them. Because when it does, it then determines how you relate to people. This is not humility. That's why the Bible says that Jesus made Himself of "no reputation" (Philippians 2).

Meekness can be defined as "power under control." Meekness is not synonymous with humility. Meekness takes a certain level of restraint and self-control, because you have the power and ability to do certain things, but a spirit of meekness allows you not to abuse that power. That's why Jesus described Himself as "meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11).

Saints, when we look at the various relationships that we are in and the various interactions that we have with other people, can our attitude and disposition be described as humble and meek? Are you always having to get your way or are you humble enough to serve the desires of others? Do you have to always be right or can you let others express their perspective without having to shoot and shut them down? If we really want to be Christ-like, if we really want to be workers of the Kingdom of God, then we have to master humility and meekness.

What's the Real Problem?

A lot of Christians I know are preoccupied with the subject of sin, whether it's their own personal sin that they haven't learned to overcome yet or whether it's someone else's sin for which they find offensive or have been victimized by. It may even be the sin of a nation, present or past. Whatever the context, a lot of discussion seems to center around the topic of sin.

However, sin is not the real problem. God does not have a problem with our sin. Doesn't that sound like heresy? Why do I make that statement? The reason why God doesn't have a problem with sin is because He sent His Son Jesus Christ to take care of the sin problem. When Jesus died on the Cross for the sins of the world, sin no longer became a problem for God. Does that mean He likes sin? No! Does that mean God is okay with people sinning? No! (Romans 6) I said God does not have a problem with sin because the problem has been solved. Now that all of our sins have been forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, God the Father no longer has a problem with sin, it's no longer a barrier between us and Him.

So then, if sin is not the problem (and it is not) then what's the real problem? The real problem is not sin, the real problem is self. Any sinful act, behavior or thought all revolves around the self: 

• Self-Centeredness
• Selfishness
• Self-Promotion
• Self-Indulgence
• Self-Pleasure

Any act of disobedience to God is rooted in the self. That's why Jesus said that the first requirement to be His disciple was to deny yourself (Matthew 16). Not deny sin, deny self.

I would challenge each and every one of us to examine our hearts and see where the spirit of self has taken root. If you are wrestling with some area of sin, ask the Holy Spirit to show you "the root" of your disobedience by exposing what it is in your self that makes you show more allegiance to you than to God. If you're a Christian, we know you're convicted by your sinful actions (John 16); but if you haven't addressed the part of your self that's sponsoring the sin in the first place, your behavior won't change. Let's quit getting preoccupied with the sin; let's start to deal with the self--the real problem!

It's Time to Make the Shift

Saints, we are in a season where God is shifting things. Last Sunday we experienced Daylight Savings Time and the clocks were moved one hour forward- a shift. Next week we'll move from the season of winter into the official season of Spring- a shift. Next Saturday represents the New Moon on the Hebrew calendar, representing the beginning of a new month-a shift. Next month we celebrate the Feast of Passover, which, according to Exodus 14, represents the "beginning of months"-a shift.

The God we serve is a God of Shifts, and if you're going to work for Him and work with Him, you have to be able to make the shift. This means that there are some changes that God is allowing to transpire in many of our lives that don't represent "the way things were" nor how things "used to be." A lot of times, it seems like nothing was wrong with the "old way." It seemed to work just fine and seemed to be in alignment with God's will for our lives. But God is doing a "new thing" (Isaiah 43), which means we have to make a shift.

I know it's not easy. Change is usually difficult and inconvenient. But God is sponsoring the changes and shifts to further facilitate our preparation for the New Move of God. When God releases His revival and restoration in the Earth, we're going to see things that we've never seen before (1Corinthians 2). So this means we're going to have to do some things that we've never done before (Joshua 3). 

Don't be discouraged, don't complain, ask God for the grace to make the necessary changes and shifts that the Spirit is leading you to make. It may not make sense right now, but don't worry about that. The God we serve is a God of Change, and He's a God that Divinely sponsors shifts in our lives to coincide with the shifts that He's ordaining in the heavens and the Earth. It's time saints, it's time to make the shift!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we come before You today asking You for the grace necessary to make the shifts that You are sponsoring in our lives. Father, if we've been guilty of complaining or murmuring or even giving up and being slothful, we ask Father that You forgive us. Encourage us, renew us and give us the spiritual stamina required to adjust to what You've divinely ordained for our lives. We love you Father and we say, not our will, but Thy Will be done. We give You all of the Praise, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Importance of Intercession

Saints, we are at a time where it is imperative that we as the children of God and the Body of Christ, get on our knees and begin to labor in the ministry of intercession. The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If My people, who are called by my name, would humble themselves and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal the land". 

If this country and this nation is going to experience spiritual healing and Divine Deliverance, it's going to come through the intercessory prayers of the church.

To "intercede" means, "to go on behalf of." We live in a world, particularly in this country, where so many people don't know God. They are like Romans 10, they might have a "zeal" of God but not according to knowledge. Even people in the church who "profess" to know Christ are actually religious and not regenerated (born again by the Holy Spirit, John 3). With this being said, people, a lot of times ignorantly, are insulting and offending God and don't even know it. What this does is create a breeding ground for demonic activity and Satanic assault.

America is entering a period of judgment that will affect this entire country if not the world. This Judgment can be spared, if the saints pray! If you know Jesus Christ in the pardon of your sins and you know the words of prayer, then I want to exhort you to intercede on behalf of this country in some specific areas:

• Pray that God will release a spirit of repentance across America

• Pray that God will release a spirit of revival across America

•Declare and Decree that same-sex marriage will not be legislated by the Supreme Court

• Declare and Decree that ISIS will NOT attack on American soil, internally or externally

• Declare and Decree that America will NOT sign that missile agreement with Iran on March 24


Prayer
Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name; thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, Forever. Amen.

America and Israel Relations

This week, we witnessed an historic event in the Prime Minister of Israel coming to America to speak to a joint session of Congress. Even though President Obama was not in attendance, the speech was very significant. Prime Minister Netanyahu was speaking in regards to his concerns about the upcoming nuclear missile treaty that the United States is working out with Iran. 

Needless to say, there is a lot of political propaganda surrounding the Prime Minister's visit and the unconventional circumstances which brought him here. But as the people of God and as the Body of Christ, we need not dismiss the gravity of this week's events.

My primary concern is not simply the Prime Minister's plea for the United States not to strike an arms deal with Iran; my concern is the present state of Israel-America Relations. This is something that the Church needs to seriously pray about. One of the things that needs to be stressed more in the mainstream Church is God's present love for Israel. There are Christians that mistakenly think that because the Jews at large have rejected Christ as the Messiah, that God has turned His back on them. This is not correct. The Jews are still the people of God. And the covenants that God has established with the Jews are still intact (Romans 11, Galatians 3).

For this reason, whoever blesses Israel, God will bless (Genesis 12). Therefore, I believe, that when God re-established Israel as a sovereign nation in 1948, God blessed America tremendously (economically) because of the central role that President Harry Truman played in supporting the nation of Israel during this period.

Why is all of this significant? Because saints, if we as a nation turn our back on Israel, our destiny and fate is sealed. You can't be blessed as a nation, politically posturing yourself against the people of God. This is a fact! What I'm stating is not political commentary, it's spiritual and prophetic insight. 

There are blessings, I believe, that America has received, in large part because of our alliance with Israel. I am concerned that if we revoke that support of Israel from a foreign policy standpoint, our nation will stand even closer to Divine Judgment. Regardless of your political position in regards to the current events, as a child of God and a believer in Christ, pray that God will give our current Administration the wisdom to restore and renew positive America and Israel relations.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we come before Your Throne of Grace, interceding on behalf of our nation, America. We confess our sins and pray that You have mercy on the United States as it relates to your chosen nation Israel. Father we pray for our President, stir his heart and prick his spirit that he will be favorable to Israel and do Your Divine Will in the days to come. At the end of the day Father, we know that YOU ARE GOD and You are Sovereign. We count it done Father, and we give You the Praise, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Spiritual Entertainment

One of the defining aspects of our present day culture is our immersion in entertainment. We have become an entertainment-oriented society. From sports, to music, to videos, to the internet, to cell phone games, even the news; it's all geared towards how to entertain the people. Unfortunately, this spirit of entertainment has found its way in the Church. Not that this is a new phenomenon of course, but it's still something that has to be addressed within the Body of Christ. 

Choirs and praise teams sing, not simply to glorify God, but to impress the congregation. Preachers preach, not simply to give a Word, but to excite the people and get them to shout and say, "Amen." This type of distortion of the Gospel is not of God.

The reason that I'm being led to address this is because we're getting ready to enter a New Dimension for the contemporary, mainstream Church; and if we're not careful, this too can become an area of entertainment. It's the manifestation of the supernatural works of God.

We're getting ready to enter a season where, believe it or not, the supernatural is going to become the norm. Not for everybody, but for those who have been prepared and ordained by the Spirit. When this shift manifests, people are going to be in awe to the point that people will flock from all types of places to "witness a miracle." That's fine, if it's all to the Glory of God. But Satan is a counterfeiter! And he would love nothing more than to take the Sacred Power of God and turn it into a show.

Saints, for those of you who know that God is calling you into a ministry of miracles, signs and wonders, I say to you, maintain your Integrity. Don't sell God out for the crowd. Don't try to market your ministry because of the miraculous. Stay humble before God! Don't let the appeasement of the people get you off track of what God is truly calling you to do.

Many people still come to church to be entertained. They're still looking for a show. The supernatural manifestation of God is not for show, it's for His Glory and the advancement of His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Let's make sure that we do not become perpetrators of spiritual entertainment in the church.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we become before Your Throne of Grace, beseeching You Father that You deliver us individually and corporately from a spirit of entertainment. Father, we're not trying to embrace a "celebrity" spirit; we just want to be Your servants. Grace us Father with the humility, the meekness and the lowliness of mind to stay focused on glorifying You and advancing Your Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Let us be as Your Son and make ourselves of no reputation. We count it done, and we give You the Praise, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Friendship with God

One thing that I believe every human being desires, and to a large extent needs, is friends. Everybody wants to have people that they feel close to, connected with, share a significant bond. Sometimes family members don't always make the best friends. As you get older, it seems like good friends are hard to come by; but it doesn't stop us from wanting these types of close-knit relationships.

What we fail to realize a lot of times is that God wants friends, too. We often think of God as this Great Deity in the skies who simply wants to run the Earth and have us be obedient to His Divine Will. This is true to a certain extent, but what God desires from His human creation is much deeper than this. God wants us to share a Divine friendship with Him that will last through Eternity.

In order to have a friendship with God, we first have to recognize that Christianity is not a religion, it is a Relationship. No functional relationship simply revolves around the "do's and don'ts". Any effective and productive relationship revolves around Communication. Yes, God wants us to obey Him, but you won't obey Him if you don't communicate with Him.

Communication is a two-way street. God wants to talk to us, but He also wants us to talk to Him. The primary means by which God speaks to us is through His Word. That's why it's important to read the Bible everyday because you're allowing God to talk to you. The primary way that we talk to God is through prayer. It is amazing how many professing Christians really don''t like to pray. Maybe it's because they don't have much of a relationship with God.


Saints, it's time; God is looking for some friends. Some friends that He can trust, some friends He can confide in, some friends He can depend on. Are you ready, willing and available to have a Friendship with God?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before your Throne of Grace, thanking you and praising you for the Privilege and Opportunity to be called the Friends of God. Father, we ask that you have mercy for our distance and slothfulness in developing a truly Intimate relationship with you. We ask Father that you tear down any walls and hardness in our hearts that is keeping us from pressing into your Presence. May your Spirit make us fit and qualified to have a Friendship with You. In the Mighty Name of Jesus we do pray, Amen.