A Spirit of Expectation

When you look at the church collectively and corporately, it's hard to identify something for which there is a sense of expectation. Sure, there are individual congregations that may have certain projects or programs that they are excited about and are waiting to come to fruition. But for the Body of Christ as a whole, you don't see something that "every believer," if you will, is waiting for with a spirit of expectation. I bring this up because a spirit of expectation is what drives a group and a community into the future. Without a goal, an aim, a dream, a mark, that has you anticipating the "not yet," it's easy to get stuck in the "here and now."

In looking at the times of Jesus, before His public showing and after His Ascension, the people of God were waiting for the Messiah. The 3rd chapter of the Gospel of Saint Luke says that "the people were in expectation." Joseph of Arimathea, the man whose tomb Jesus was buried in, "waited for the kingdom of God" (Mark 15). What is the church waiting for today? Some would say, we're waiting for Jesus' return. We're waiting for the Rapture, or the Second Coming. Are we really? Any authentic expectation of the Messiah has a dual expectation of The Kingdom. And with that expectation comes a concomitant investment.

Part of the problem with the church's expectation of Christ's return is that we've made it too eschatological (related to the end times and the end of the world). This makes His Return "way off" if you will, and it's hard to make the application to everyday living. But what if Christ's Return wasn't necessarily related to His return at the end of the world? What if the Return of Christ wasn't restricted to an End-Time Kingdom event? Jesus says in the 14th chapter of the Gospel of St. John, "he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." He also says in the same chapter, "if a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him." Could it be that the Manifestation of Christ is an experience that can take place before His ultimate return, for the believer that loves Him? When Jesus says He will come to the believer, could it be in Person? Many people may write this off as Jesus referring to the presence of the Holy Spirit; I am not. I believe that there is a dimension to the believer's relationship with Christ that, if he loves the Lord and keeps His commandments, the Lord will come to him/her in Person and manifest His Presence.

Whether you agree with this or not, I will ask you this; "if" what I'm believing is true, would that not heighten your expectation as a believer? If you felt like you had a legitimate chance to witness Jesus in person before your physical death, wouldn't that put a little more boost in your commitment to your relationship with Him, something else to look forward to? I truly believe, if nothing else, it would heighten the church's Spirit of Expectation.

The Hope of Glory

One of the things that people earnestly desire is a personal sense of significance. People need to feel like they matter, and that they're contributing something that is being valued by the world around them. A lot of times we call this self-worth, self-esteem, sometimes even the ego; but either way, there's an intrinsic sense that people have to be legitimately valued and appreciated by others. Today I'd like to describe this feeling as "glory."

If you're a Christian, you've probably been conditioned to reserve the term glory for God Almighty alone. This is incorrect. When Joseph was in Egypt and his brothers discovered who he was, he told them, "tell my father of all my glory in Egypt" (Genesis 45). This shows that there is a glory that God does confer upon man. From a secular standpoint, Michael Jackson's glory was his recognition as the greatest entertainer in the world, selling the most albums in music history. Michael Jordan's glory is his recognition as the greatest basketball player to ever play the game and him winning 6 NBA championships. Tiger Woods' glory is being recognized as the greatest golfer of his generation, winning 14 major championships. There is a glory unto man, and deep down, every human being wants to experience it in some shape, form or fashion.

If you're feeling somewhat like an "underachiever," if you feel like your life isn't fulfilling the potential for which you know you possess, be not dismayed. All you need to do is put your faith in the "Hope of Glory." The Hope of Glory is in fact Jesus Christ, but I want to look at it from a more practical, not necessarily "spiritual" standpoint.

Human glory has a tendency to fade. Michael Jackson is no longer the King of Pop. Michael Jordan is no longer the best basketball player in the world. Tiger Woods hasn't won a major championship in golf in nearly 7 years. Human glory fades. But there is a Glory that God has ordained for every individual, that was established before the foundation of the world, that if a person reaches and accesses that glory, it will be eternal. The gifts, the talents, the calling that God has bestowed upon you, may bring glory to you, but in order for it to last it has to be rooted in Him. God wants you to be celebrated, God wants you to have acclaim from others, God wants you to be appreciated and affirmed, it's part of the Blessing of God (Genesis 12). But if you reach for that glory apart from Him, it will be fleeting and temporary at best.

Don't put your hope in secular success. Don't build the God-given gifts and talents that you've received around your own personal aggrandizement or self-fulfillment. Seek for the Glory that God already has prepared for you, that has been waiting specifically for you before you were even in your mother's womb. If you reach for the Eternal Glory in Christ, you'll have the true experience, forever, of the Hope of Glory.

Jesus Christ-THE KING

Generally when we think about Jesus, we think of Him in the context of His role as Savior of the world. This of course is correct, considering that God the Father, sent Jesus to the Earth with the specific intent of dying for the sins of the world (John 3:16). However, we must remember that not only was Jesus the Savior of the world, He was also born a King. This is significant, because if we don't keep in mind the Kingly Ministry of Jesus Christ, we won't be fully in touch with the role God has ordained for us to fulfill as ambassadors of His Kingdom.

In dealing with the birth of Jesus, the Gospel of Saint Matthew makes it clear that Jesus was born a King (Matthew 2). Jesus further reiterates this in the Gospel of John, when Pilate asks Him is He a king, and Jesus responds, "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born..." (John 18). This is not a mystery to many of us. However, I believe that many Christians think of the Kingship of Jesus in reference to Him being "King of the Jews." This too is correct, but His Kingship is deeper than that.

Keep in mind that Jesus is referred to as the "last Adam" (1Corinthians 15). The reason why Jesus is often referred to in the Gospels as the "Son of Man", is because He, like Adam before Him, were the only men who walked the earth in a pure sinless state. So Jesus was fulfilling the original role that Adam had been ordained to play.

In further making this point, let us explore the role of Satan. Have you ever wondered why Jesus refers to him as the "prince of this world"(John 16)? Prince is a title of rank and rulership. The reason why Jesus refers to Satan this way is because when Adam disobeyed God in what is described as "The Fall," his dominion (Genesis 1) was then relinquished and given to Satan. Satan only has power because man gave it to him. That's why Jesus did not argue with him when he stated that he could give Him all the kingdoms of the world (Matthew 4).

Saints, Jesus didn't only die so that all of our sins could be forgiven, He also came to reclaim what Adam relinquished! Now the dominion that Adam originally had, as king of the world, which he willingly abdicated to Satan (thus making him the prince of the world), has now been restored back to Christ through His death, burial and resurrection. Jesus is now the King of the world!

Why is this significant for us as believers? Because saints, if you are in Christ, you too now are part of the rulership of the world. That's why Jesus makes it clear that we have all power over the enemy (Luke 10). That's why He describes us as "kings and priests" (Revelation 1). If Satan is raising hell on earth, it's only because there aren't enough Christians exercising their Divine Authority in Christ to bring enough Heaven down from above. Saints, don't just serve Christ as Savior, worship Him as THE KING.

A Confusion of Identity

Recently Bruce Jenner, the Decathlon champion from the 1976 Olympics, did an interview with Diane Sawyer, sharing with her that he was Transgender and that he wanted to become a woman. At the beginning of the interview, one of the first things Bruce Jenner says in response to his identity is that he has always been "confused" about his gender identity. The God we serve is not the Author of confusion (1Corinthians 14).

As the Supreme Court begins to hear oral arguments in regards to the case on Same-Sex Marriage, Satan is already planting the next seed of perversion in the minds of America with the issue of not being the sex you were born as or Divinely created to be.As we get into this, let me say on the front end that I am not familiar with all of the dynamics of individuals claiming to be Transgender. But what needs to be established in the midst of the conversation is what the Word of God says.

The argument, if you will, for being Transgender is that you can be born with male or female genitalia, and not be defined gender-wise by the genitalia you possess. So I can have male genitalia, but I'm not a boy, I'm a girl. I can have female genitalia, but I'm not a girl, I'm really a boy. This is not consistent with the Word of God. The Bible says very clearly that in the beginning, God created man in His own Image male and female (Genesis 1). So what is the distinction between male and female, the genitalia. Now, at the risk of going too far, God doesn't say He created them "man and woman." He said "male and female." So gender identity was determined by God when He first made humanity.

So what about the hormonal issue of gender identity? There have been reports that if you have more estrogen (mostly found in women) than you do testosterone (primarily found in men), you may be more inclined to "feel" like a woman or "feel" like a man (if it's the reverse). This may be the case. But does that in turn "make you" that particular gender? Is gender then primarily hormonally based or gender based?

There's a spiritual element here that has to be addressed by the church and the Body of Christ. God has a Divine Order. Man (humanity) as the creation of God has the obligation and responsibility to submit to that Order. And there are times when God will "allow" things to be "out of order," so that we as His creation, will turn to Him so He can then restore order. But you have to start, with the Divine Order of God.

This is where America has failed. I feel for Bruce Jenner, and every other individual that wrestles with whether or not they're really a girl or a boy. However, the wrestle that people are having does not negate the Divine order of God. So if you were born with male genitalia, you're a male. If you're born with female genitalia, you're a female. That is the Order of God.

So what do you do with the feelings? Those have to be taken to God. I'm not saying that to simply "blow it off" or seem ultra-religious. When one identifies that what they're wrestling with is not within the Divine Order of God, they then seek Deliverance. This is where the witness of the church is failing, because we're scared that if we tell "Bruce Jenner" that he needs deliverance, that we're saying in essence that he's wrong. Yes, I'll say it, he's wrong! But not wrong because of how he feels, but wrong in his lack of acknowledgement and submission to the Divine Order of God.

Saints, this country is getting more and more steeped into the spirit of perversion as an acceptable lifestyle. This is not the will of God for America. Let us continue to pray, for people like Bruce Jenner, and for our nation as a whole, that we will be delivered from the crisis of A Confusion of Identity.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, as Your people, we come before Your Throne of Grace, standing in the gap for the United States of America. Father, we declare and decree that same-sex marriage will not be legislated in this country. We ask Father, as only You as God can do, that You move on the hearts of the Supreme Court, that they will make a decision that is in alignment with Your Divine Will. Then Father, we ask that You release a spirit of Repentance and Deliverance upon our nation. Turn our hearts back to Your Divine Order, and deliver us from the strongholds that have us defying Your Divine Will for our lives. We plead for mercy for America, and we plead the Blood of Jesus over this country. We thank You Father for hearing our prayers, and we count it done. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

In the World, but not Of the World

One of the issues for many Christians has been the challenge of being "in the world" but not "of the world." One of the worst things people can say about your Christian witness is that you're "worldly." Many times, this reference suggests that you're more carnal than you are spiritual. That you're more secular than you are holy. This assessment isn't always correct, let alone fair, but it's still a challenge because a lot of times it makes us feel "less than" as a Christian.

However, we do have a call from God to operate from an "otherworldly" perspective. It's not a perspective based on behavior, but rather spiritual transformation (Romans 12). Because the church historically has looked at the phrase "not of this world" as primarily behavioral, our witness has taken more of a "religious tone" as opposed to a "Christ-like" tone. This is not the will of God. We must gain a better understanding of what it means to operate as "other worldly" in a true and authentic Christian context.

Jesus said in the 19th chapter of the Gospel of Saint John, "My Kingdom is not of this world". In order to adopt a truly "other worldly" mind-set, it must start with a "Kingdom Consciousness." The Kingdom of Heaven (for which Jesus was referring to) is radically different than the kingdom of earth (primarily influenced by Satan). If you are not "seeking first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness" (Matthew 6) you will have no capacity to operate appropriately "in the world, but not of the world."

We must also remember that, when God originally made humanity, He made male and female in His Image and after His Likeness (Genesis 1). I believe that by and large, many Christians, when they think of Adam, think of a man pretty much like us, but that he was made without sin. This is incorrect. Adam was a Supernatural Man. And Supernatural, shortened, would make Adam a SUPERMAN. That's why Jesus is referred to as the "last Adam" (1Corinthians 15), because as the Son of Man, He exhibited the same Supernatural characteristics that the First Adam possessed.

Saints, God did not create us to be normal. He created us to be "peculiar" (1Peter 2). Quit trying to fit in. Quit trying to be socially accepted. Embrace the calling that God has placed upon you as His child to operate as a Supernatural Being. Then, not only will you be used by the Father to turn the world upside down, but you'll truly have a witness of what it means to be In the world, but not of the world.

Spiritual Endurance

Anything worth doing, and anything worth having, requires endurance. If you have a goal or a dream of any substance or significance, in order to obtain it, there are some things you're going to have to endure. Endurance is not a characteristic that is germain to our present cultural society. We have become a "microwave" society. We want things quick and in a hurry. We want the "quick-fix." However, life doesn't always work that way. And it definitely doesn't work that way with God.

I believe that one of the reasons why the church doesn't witness more miracles and experience more of the supernatural is because of our lack of endurance. Many church-goers can't even stay in church for more than two hours (if that)! Yet they can watch tv and stay on the computer "all night long." Our lack of attention span is, once again, a testament to our lack of endurance. If the preacher preaches longer than 30 minutes to an hour, they've preached "too long." This is a cultural phenomenon that we must overcome. We have to get God off the clock and let the Spirit "stretch" our physical and mental endurance when it comes to the things of God.

However, there are some believers where spiritual endurance is a legitimate issue. There are many of you that have been waiting on God, and you're beginning to ask the question, "How long?":

• How long will my body hurt like this until I am healed?
• How long before I have enough money to pay my bills?
• How long before my marriage starts to work out? 
• How long before I get married? 

On the surface, these questions may appear to be related to a lack of patience because of the association with the time factor (how long?). But not necessarily. The reason these questions have to do with endurance is because of the challenge of internalizing difficulty, inconvenience, and in many cases, hurt and pain, while waiting on God to fulfill the promises. This is why the Scripture says in Hebrews chapter 6, in referring to Abraham, "after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise". It wasn't just patience that allowed Abraham to receive the promise, it was also spiritual endurance.

The greatest example of spiritual endurance is Jesus. The Scripture says in the 12th chapter of Hebrews, "Looking unto Jesus...who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross." In order for Jesus to receive the promotion of being seated at the right Hand of The Father, He first had to endure the agony of the Cross.

Saints, I know it may be hard for you right now, but I want to encourage you to hang in there! Your deliverance is on the way. Your breakthrough is on the way. Your healing is on the way. Your blessing is on the way. But in order to receive it, we must first learn the lesson of spiritual endurance.

The Wrestle Within

If we would all be honest, most if not all of us have something in our lives that we're wrestling with. It could be something physical in regards to your health. You could be wrestling with something financial, emotional, relational, or even spiritual. But more than likely, all of us have something that represents the "wrestle within."

Believe it or not, God allows these various wrestles and struggles in our lives to help sponsor the growth and development that He wants to transpire in us and in our relationship with Him. A lot of times, when we're wrestling with something, we identify it as something being wrong; not necessarily. It may actually represent the wrestle in your life that God has ordained to facilitate the fulfillment of His Divine will and purpose for your life.

The key to dealing with the wrestle within is resolution. So many times, many of us, when we're wrestling with things, just suppress and deny the struggle and anxiety, and the pain that we're experiencing regarding the nature of our wrestle. This is not the will of God. God wants us to acknowledge the wrestle within, and bring it to Him. But in order to surrender your wrestle to The Father, we must first identify and acknowledge the wrestle in the first place.

If anybody knows about the wrestle within, it is Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus wrestled with fulfilling God's Divine Will for His life, and completing the Mission He had been assigned to complete. That's why He said in the 22nd chapter of the Gospel of Saint Luke, "Father...remove this cup from Me." But Jesus resolved His wrestle with the statement, "not My will but Thine be done."

Saints, the resolution of the wrestle within can be found in surrendering your wrestle not just to God  but to the will of God. God has a purpose for the wrestle, but He also has a resolution for the wrestle that will bring Him Glory, and bring you peace. Don't just continue to wrestle and struggle, seek God for direction and His ordained resolution for your wrestle within.

What are You Waiting For?

One of the greatest challenges in working with God and serving the Lord is learning how to wait. If you're going to be a disciple of Christ and a servant of the Living God, you're going to have to wait on Him. This, at times, appears challenging because, a lot of times in our minds, it seems like God is moving "so slow." In reality, this is not the case; but it "feels" that way anyhow.

The question that I want to raise today is: "What are you waiting for?" A lot of us have been in "wait mode" for some time now, holding on to the promises of God. Some of you are waiting for financial breakthrough. Some of you are waiting for healing. Some of you are waiting for ministry expansion or for God to promote you in a particular office or position. What are you waiting for?

Saints, part of the challenge of waiting, that the believer faces, is that a lot of times we're waiting for something in the natural. Whether it's a car, a job, a spouse, a promotion: many times it's something that we can see with our "eyes" and feel with our senses. This type of "natural expectation" from God is what fuels our frustration and makes it difficult, at best, to wait on God. What we must remember is that God is not a "physical" God, He is a Spirit (John 4); which means His Essence is Invisible. So if you're going to "wait on God", taking the phrase literally, you have to make a shift from having a "natural" expectation to a spiritual or "Super-natural" expectation.

Let me clarify very quickly, this is not the same as "expecting a miracle." Whatever it is, in the natural, that we're waiting on from God, most of us need some type of "supernatural manifestation" in order to receive what God has promised. This is not what I'm talking about. What we want to do is shift our expectation from a "natural" expectation to a spiritual expectation. Meaning, what are you expecting God to do in and with you?

The secret to waiting on God is to wait for your "change" to come. When Job was waiting for God to change his situation, he said in the fourteenth chapter of Job, "all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come."  In speaking of the Rapture, Paul says "we shall all be changed" (1Corinthians 15). The key is not the physical, the key is the supernatural change that God wants to create on the inside. And once your hope gets focused on the spiritual and not the natural, you're no longer "restless" in your waiting, because you've learned how to rest and abide in Him. It takes work to achieve that type of rest (Hebrews 4), but believe me saints, He's worth the wait.

Willing to Pay the Price

One of the challenges of being a believer in Christ is committing to the cost of discipleship. Salvation (at least for us) is free; but there's a cost to discipleship. So, if a person is serious about being a disciple of Christ and being all that God has called them to be, they have to be willing to pay the price.

Jesus says in the 3rd chapter of the Book of Revelation, "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire." To "buy" means there's a price to be paid. He also states in the14th chapter of Luke, that we need to "count the cost." There's a price to pay if one is going to be a true disciple of Christ.

One of the reasons why this is such a challenge for many believers in the church is because we are conditioned to embrace a "convenient Christianity," not a "costly" one. In other parts of the world, as we have recently seen in Kenya, people are dying and being persecuted for their faith in Christ. In America, there is still a strong degree of acceptance for people who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Even though we thank God for this, some believers, including preachers, have taken this freedom for granted and relegated the blessing of Christianity to material and creature comforts.

God is in the process of putting together an Army. He is ready to establish His Kingdom through the rulership of His Son and the fellowship of His church. However, if you're to serve in God's End-Time Army, you're going to have to be willing to pay the price. You're going to have to be willing to "endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2Timothy 2). You're going to have to be willing to deny yourself, carry your cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16). You're going to have to be willing to endure persecution for the Name of Christ (2Timothy 3).

The days of  complacent Christianity have expired. No longer should we be looking to serve the Master in a spirit of convenience and comfort. We should be looking to sacrifice, to surrender, even, if need be, to lay down our lives. But we must be willing to pay the price.

Learning the Rhythm of God

One of the things that needs to be understood about the God we serve is that the God we serve is a God of rhythm. He's not a God of the abstract, He's not a God of spontaneity (even though He can be), He is a God of rhythm. And if you're going to truly serve and worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4), it is important as well as imperative that we learn the rhythm of God.

If you look at how God has structured the Universe, most everything operates on rhythm. The earth revolves around the sun based upon a rhythm, 365 days per year. The four seasons of the year come and go based upon a rhythm, 3 months per year. Even our heartbeat, it is not sporadic, it beats with a rhythm. All of these things occur because God is a God of Rhythm.
This being the case, this is also how God operates in the lives of His children. Things are not happening "arbitrarily" in our lives, there's a spiritual tempo that God has set for the direction and timing of our lives. Once you identify the tempo that God has set for your life, calling and destiny, then you can begin to regulate your heart and mind to the pace that God has regulated for you through His Spirit.

The key to learning the rhythm of God is identifying the pace that He has ordained for your life. No one runs the pace of a sprinter if they're running a marathon. No one runs the pace of a long-distance runner if they're competing in the 100 yard-dash. A lot of our frustration is not so much the "timing" of God, as much as it is we're running at the wrong pace and therefore are out of the rhythm of God. Could it be that you're running too fast and God wants you to "slow it down"? Could it be that you're moving too slow and God is ready for you to "pick up the pace"?

Saints, at the end of the day, God is Sovereign. He has a "set time" and an Appointed Time for everything He's ordained in the earth. If you want to diminish your frustration and regain your peace of mind, quit trying to rush things and quit operating in slow-mode; learn the rhythm of God, let the Spirit establish your pace and you will walk in perfect peace.

The Handwriting is On the Wall

Many of you, I'm sure, are familiar with the old phrase, "the handwriting is on the wall." This phrase actually comes from the 5th chapter of the book of Daniel, when the king Belshazzar insulted God by using certain vessels from the Temple to celebrate at his party. The Scripture says that a hand came out of nowhere and started writing on the wall of the king's palace. The only person who could interpret the writing was Daniel.

The hand that God used to write on the wall of the king in Daniel chapter 5, was prophetic of the judgment that God was going to release upon the king and the kingdom of Babylon.
Saints, let me assure you, the handwriting is on the wall. The Divine Sentence of Judgment is already being scripted for this nation (America) if we continue on the path that we are trodding. If you listen to the media, it's almost a foregone conclusion that when the Supreme Court convenes this Spring, that they're going to legalize same-sex marriage. I rebuke that belief in the name of Jesus! Another area that we as a nation need to be wary of is the deterioration of our foreign relations with Israel. Israel is still the chosen people of God (Romans 11).

It's not too late for America to repent. But even if she doesn't, we as the people of God have a responsibility to stand in the gap and intercede for the deliverance of our nation. Every one of us needs to pray that God will not allow same-sex marriage to be legalized in this country. Regardless of your personal views, it needs to be understood that if this nation "insults God" with that type of nationally legalized perversion, the judgment of God is inevitable. The handwriting is on the wall. The Church of the living God cannot afford to sit idly by and watch the powers that be literally send our country to hell. If you want to picket, that's fine. If you want to protest, that's great. But whatever you do, pray saints, pray!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we come before Your Throne of Grace, interceding on behalf of the United States of America. Father, we ask for forgiveness for our blatant disregard for Your Divine Order in regards to Your sacred institution of Marriage. We ask that You show mercy on our country and deliver us from this spirit of delusion and perversion. Father we declare and decree, that same-sex marriage will not be legalized in this country. We declare and decree, that the Supreme Court of this nation WILL NOT legalize same-sex marriage in America. Father, we know that You hear our prayers, and that the prayers of the righteous availeth much. We declare these decrees in the Name of Jesus, and by His Blood, Amen.

The Purpose of the Son of God

Photo courtesy of Dr. Ashraf Fekry via Flickr

When considering the purpose of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, one might quickly say that His purpose was to die for the sins of the world and redeem humanity back to God. Of course, this answer would be correct; but what else does the scripture say about the purpose of the Son of God? In the first epistle of John the 3rd chapter, the Scripture says that the purpose of the Son of God was to destroy the works of the devil.

Saints, one of the challenges that we have as Christians is to make sure that the works of the devil are being destroyed in our lives. Jesus died for our sins, and His Blood atones for all of the sinful deeds that we have and ever will commit against God. With this grace perspective in mind, we don't want to be guilty of "abusing" the grace and mercy of God. The forgiveness of God is not a license for sin, it's a provision for the sin that we inevitably commit. Therefore, if we understand the purpose of the Son of God, we won't grow complacent and indifferent about those things in our lives that do not reflect the divine will of God.

In the 2nd chapter of Titus, the Scripture says that Jesus gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify us unto good works. Hebrews 6 also talks about repentance from "dead works." What are the areas in your life for which you need to "repent" from? Sometimes, it's not sin that we need to repent from, but dead works.

If there are areas in our lives that we know do not reflect God's Divine Direction for our lives, it's time we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us afresh to correct and rectify those places in our lives. We can't continue to walk down a "wrong path." We can't continue to be stiff-necked and stubborn when it comes to the things that please us, stroke us and satisfy us, but are not pleasing to God. The Father loves us, regardless of where we are in our lives as it relates to the execution of His divine will. But it's a pretty sad indictment when we refuse to yield to the will of the Father, knowing that goes against the purpose of the Son of God.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we beseech You today, break the yoke that is keeping us in bondage to dead works. Set us free from the mind-set that has us consistently going against the path that You have ordained for our lives. Give us the Spirit of Your Son in the Garden of Gethsemane, not my will, but Thy Will be done. Thank You for the Deliverance Father, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

A Gated Community

If you are at all familiar with the architecture of Heaven, then you know that it is, in fact, a "gated community." The Scripture says that there are 3 gates in the east, 3 gates in the west, 3 gates in the north and 3 gates in the south (Revelation 21). Why would it be significant for Heaven to have gates? Because Heaven is not simply a spiritual location, it is the residence of the government of God. Any government of significance has to be protected, has to be barred, has to be gated.

Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17). Therefore, we should represent the Gated Community of God. Some of us are "too loose" and giving the Enemy too much room to come in our lives and "kill, steal and destroy" (John 10). We need to be more guarded so that we will not fall victim to the random attacks of the Devil. It's hard for a robber to break in your house if they have to break through iron gates.

One of the areas for which we need to be more guarded is our mouth. We need to guard the things that we say. Jesus says that we will be accountable for every word that comes out of our mouth (Matthew 12). Be more conscious and monitor the things that come out of your mouth. Let there be a spiritual gate that your words must pass through.

We need to be more guarded with our eyes and ears. These two physical instruments represent gates into the spiritual world. What you look at and watch, and what you listen to and hear directly affects your heart and spirit. That's why Jesus says that if you so much as "look" (eye-gate) at a woman with lust in your heart, you've committed sin (Matthew 5). And the scripture says in Romans 10 that faith cometh by "hearing" (ear-gate) and hearing by the Word of God.

Lastly, we need to guard our relationships. Not everybody should qualify to be your "friend." Yes, you want to be friendly and kind to every one, but you can't afford to open your heart and mind to everyone that likes you or everyone with whom you're associated. The Scripture says that bad company corrupts good manners (1Corinthians 15). There are some relationships God does not want you in; sometimes even family. You have to be guarded and make sure people qualify to enter the gate of your inner circle.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, let us be prayerful and watchful as we go forward in Your Name. Give us the discernment to recognize that in the earth realm, we represent the Gated Community of the Kingdom of God. Give us the Grace not to be judgmental or self-righteous, but Spirit-led and obedient to what You would have us to allow into the gates of our lives. We count it done, and we give You the Praise, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Keep Hope Alive

One of the essential characteristics that a person needs in order to work with God is Hope. A lot of times we talk about faith, and of course we talk about love, but I don't know if we focus enough on Hope. In reading 1Corinthians chapter 13, the scripture states that in addition to faith and love, hope is essential in regards to our relationship with God.

The reason hope is so significant in serving God is because, a lot of times, God will allow things to look "hopeless." It wouldbe nice to think that when working with God, everything's going to be smooth sailing. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. God will allow things to get to their lowest point. And when He does, you're going to need Hope in order to persevere and endure.

Hope can be described as the ability to believe in the prospect of tomorrow in spite of the dismal circumstances of today. When you put your faith in God, you're believing Him to be in control of the situation and to take care of you through it. When you put your hope in God, you're not trusting Him just for you, you're trusting Him for the outcome for which He has promised you. You're believing that, no matter what it looks like, the outcome is determined, and your hope in God is reflected in persistent expectation of what the outcome is going to be.

When the children of God were stuck at the Red Sea, with Pharoah's armies closing in behind them, their situation looked "hopeless."  It wasn't just a matter of having faith in God, it was a matter of keeping Hope alive that, regardless of the circumstances, this was not the end. There was still hope that God would deliver them.

When Jesus went to Calvary, and was arrested by the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Disciples lost Hope. It wasn't so much that they stopped believing in Jesus, but the outcome for which they had anticipated no longer looked promising. When they lost hope in what they expected, they jumped ship, even starting to deny that they even knew Jesus (John 18).

However, one of the greatest examples of hope was the thief on the cross. If you closely examine his request to Jesus, it was packed with hope. His words were, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom" (Luke 23). Don't miss the profundity of this request. Jesus was dying, and so was the thief. Both of them were being executed as criminals of the Roman state. How in the world can the thief talk about Jesus "coming into His Kingdom"? Because he had hope. He was not reacting to the drama of the crucifixion. He was not reacting to the political machinations of Pilate or the Sanhedrin. He was responding to the belief that Jesus was in fact the Messiah and that He would be raised from the dead and establish The Kingdom of God on earth.

Saints, my prayer is that, like the thief on the cross, we fixate our faith and our belief on who God is and the promises He has made to us as His children. Don't get lost in how you feel, don't get distracted by temporal situations and circumstances. Make sure to keep hope alive. 

The Reprogramming of God

Every born-again believer in Christ has been called to ministry. Based upon the various gifts that God has deposited in us through His Spirit, we all have a specific area in the Kingdom for which we have been assigned to work. Many people in the church have identified and acknowledged their call to the ministry. This is commonplace amongst  those who have answered a call to preach. Others have answered various callings in pastoral care, youth ministry, music ministry, as well as areas such as prophecy, deliverance and healing. However, if one is going to be "successful" in the ministry and the calling for which God has assigned them to fulfill, it's going to require the reprogramming of God.

When people answer a call to the ministry, a lot of times they are inclined to believe that the gifts that God has given them will be sufficient in fulfilling what God has called them to do. This is incorrect. Then there's another school of thought that, once one enters the ministry, one should receive some sort of seminary training. This too, is incorrect. Most seminaries are not designed to equip ministers for Kingdom building. What is required for the fulfillment of God's call for one's life is submission to the reprogramming of God. 

The Reprogramming of God entails the "reconditioning" that one must undergo in order to qualify to work with God. Remember, Jesus said very specifically that His Kingdom is "not of this world" (John 18). Since all of us were born on the planet Earth, we have to learn how to think and process from a "heavenly perspective". This requires Divine Reprogramming. This is one of the reasons why we don't see more Miracle Manifestations in our mainstream churches, because the leaders are still trying to produce Kingdom results from an earth-bound mindset.

A classic example of someone who went through the reprogramming of God was Moses. According to Acts chapter 7, when Moses was 40 years old, it hit his spirit that he would be the one that God would use to free the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. According to his pedigree and skill set, he appeared to be the man to do it. But he failed. And the scriptures say that God used the next 40 years on the backside of the desert to "Reprogram" Moses for the Assignment he was called to complete.

Even Jesus, after He was baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist, went into the wilderness for 40 days. Why? Because even the Son of Man, through Satanic temptation, had to be Reprogrammed (or at least programmed).

Saints, don't think that your anointing and your experience in the church is sufficient for you to answer the Divine Call that God has placed on your life. There's a transformation process (Romans 12) that we have to undergo in order to be fit and qualified for the Kingdom Assignment for which God has ordained us to fulfill. Make sure that your heart and mind are positioned to receive, the Reprogramming of God.

Working for God vs. Working with God

It needs to be established that every born-again believer has a divine calling on their life. God has called everyone of His children to ministry. No one who professes to be a Christian and to know Jesus Christ in the pardon of their sins should resort to being a "bench member" or a "sideline believer". All of us should be on the battlefield for the Lord.

This does not mean that every believer in Christ is a "preacher" per se; someone who proclaims the Word of God in a sermonic fashion behind a pulpit. Not every Christian is called to "preach," but every Christian is called to minister. There are specific gifts, and there is a specific calling and destiny that God has ordained for your life, that was established even before you were born (Jeremiah 1:5). Therefore, every Christian has a call to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The question is not are you called to ministry. The question is what type of ministry will you have. In posing this question, I'm not referring to the "area" of ministry; I'm referring to the "quality". There are some believers who work "for" God, and then there are other believers who work "with" God. What's the difference?

In working for God you're in service for God, but not necessarily "partnership". You can work in the church, you can serve on an auxiliary, you can even preach the Word or pastor a church. But when it comes to working "with" God, you have to learn the character of God. You have to be positioned to shift with God as He shifts in the earth. This is a challenge for many believers, because if you are fixated on living a routine and predictable life, you won't be able to work "with" God. You can work for Him, because if you're an available vessel God will use you. But you won't be able to work "with" Him.

Examples of people in the Bible that were able to work with Jehovah were Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Elijah and of course most notably, Jesus. These men worked "with" God. This is why their ministries were characterized by supernatural acts of miracles, signs and wonders.

Saints, we don't need more preachers. We don't need more evangelists or prophets. We need some men and women, regardless of their office or calling, who have the maturity and commitment to work with God, not simply work for God.

Step Into the Water

As we celebrate the Passover Season, I perceive that God is ready to manifest miracle blessings for His chosen people. There is an elect people of God that the Lord has sovereignly chosen to represent Him in this next Move that He is getting ready to release in the earth. However, in order for us to take advantage of the Supernatural move that God is getting ready to initiate, we must Step into the Water.

When you read the narrative of the children of Israel preparing to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land, the scripture states that before God miraculously separated the waters of the Jordan, the priests had to step into the water (Joshua 3:13). Saints, remember, that in Christ Jesus we are "kings and priests" and that we are a "royal priesthood" (Revelation 1:5-6, 1Peter 2:9). So this text doesn't apply to simply preachers and pastors, it applies to every born-again believer that is ready to take possession of the Divine Inheritance that God has ordained for you. And if you read the entire narrative (in the King James Translation), you'll find that the reference "pass(ed) over" is continuously mentioned.

God is ready to bless His people beyond what we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). But we have to step into the water. We have to take the first step of faith. We have to trust God and launch into an area and arena for which we are not familiar. We have to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Too many of us as believers in Christ are still trying to play it "close to the vest". We're still trying to play it safe. We want the Blessings of God, but we want it on our terms. We want to receive what God has for us in a state of convenience and comfort. Saints, let me assure you, you will not receive what God has prepared for you not being willing to go where His Spirit leads you to go and doing what His Spirit instructs you to do.

It's an interesting time my brothers and sisters. A lot is going on in the world, but be not deceived, our God is moving. The question is, are you moving where He would have you to go? If during this Passover Season, you want all that has ordained for you, then it is imperative, by faith, that you Step Into the Water, and behold God's Miracle Working Power.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before Your Throne of Grace, thanking You for the celebration of this Passover Season. We thank You Father, that under the New Covenant that Your Son Jesus is our Passover. We ask Father that You strengthen our faith. We ask like the father whose son you healed, help our unbelief. Give us the boldness and courage to step out into the water, and receive the miracles that You have ordained for us as Your people. We count it done Father, and we say thank You, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Intellectual Infatuation

One of the things that I have learned about Americans is that Americans are smart. For the most part, Americans, by and large, are an intelligent people. America would not be described as a "dumb nation." We pride ourselves on being somewhat superior in regards to innovation and technology. We embrace and emphasize intelligence.

I would be the first to say that education and intelligence are important. In regards to upward mobility and career and vocational preparation, education and intelligence are indispensable. However, even though many Americans are smart, many Americans are also lost. 

There's a difference between intelligence and wisdom. And what America is lacking as a nation, and the world is witnessing it before our very eyes, is wisdom. Wisdom comes from God. And even though you can be smart, intelligent and cognitively competent, if you don't have wisdom and if you don't have God, you're lost, no matter how smart or intelligent you are.

This is why America needs to turn back to God. Intelligence and education can only take you so far. And it's taken America as far as she can go. If we're going to return to being a fiscally prosperous and politically influential nation, it's not going to come through research and technology, it's going to come through faith in God.

What has happened is that America has become Intellectually Infatuated. We are infatuated with our intelligence and being smart. However, this needs to shift. We don't need to be infatuated with our intellectual acumen, we need to be infatuated with the Lord! We need to fall in love with God. He's definitely in love with us. 

America belongs to God. This nation was founded by God, and founded "for" God. God wants America back. God wants this nation to return to Him. But in order to do so, we're going to have to repent, even in the church. We must repent, not simply of our sins, but of our Intellectual Infatuation.

What is the Father Looking For?

Photo Courtesy of K. Terwilliger via Flickr

It's hard to imagine that an All-Sufficient God would actually be looking for or in search of something. God is Sovereign and supplies all of our needs. However, according to the Scriptures, God is scoping the earth looking for something in particular. Do you know what that something is? Worshipers.

In the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Saint John, Jesus says that they that worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth. He then goes on to say that the Father seeketh such to worship Him. Saints, the Father is looking for worshipers. He's looking for some people that are totally sold out to Him.

What is worship? Worship can be described as unlimited devotion and praise to a person or object that has been prescribed deity status. When you worship something or someone, your devotion is unlimited. There is no cap to how far you'll go and what you'll do to show your dedication and commitment to that object of worship. 

When you worship, you praise the object of your worship. Your affection and adoration is boundless. You just can't help yourself. When you worship, the object of your worship has been given by you deity status. In other words, it is your god. The reason I'm framing the definition of worship this way is because, whether they're conscious of it or not, everybody worships. But not everybody worships God. And if a person is not worshiping God the Father through faith in Jesus Christ, then something or someone else has become their object of worship, meaning something else is their god.

As we approach this new season in the Body of Christ, don't simply be a "professing Christian." Don't be content to just be a "Sunday morning church attendee.".Aspire to be a true worshiper of God. For that is what the Father is looking for.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we come before Thy Throne of Grace, beseeching You Father that you make us True Worshipers. Teach us Father how to worship You in spirit and in truth. Let us abide by Your Word, that we will put no other gods before You! You alone are God and You are our God. We love You Father, and we give You all of the praise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.