It's Time to Go To War

As we prepare to transition into this Season of Judgment and the commencement of the Kingdom Movement, we need to understand that It's Time to Go To War. The Season that we're about to enter is not going to be light and fluffy. Yes, it will be full of the Joy of the Lord. Yes, the Lord will bless us to have some good times. But it's extremely important that we understand what time it is; It's Time to Go to War. Which means that as Soldier of Jesus Christ, you need to be prepared to Fight. You need to be prepared to Battle. You need to be prepared to engage in Warfare.

We often talk about wanting to get to "The Promised Land". Everybody wants to leave the wanderings of the wilderness and enter into the milk and honey of the Canaann land. Nothing's wrong with this aspiration. But keep in mind that when God allowed the Israelites to Cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land, the first thing that they had to do was fight. It wasn't about kicking up your heels and "chilling". There was work to be done and wars to fight. And saints, such will be the case when God releases the clarion call and the Blessing for the Kingdom Movement that He has ordained to take place in the earth. There is a group of saints that have been "called" to go to Warfare. I suspect that you may very well be one of them.

The significance of War is the occupation of territory. Nobody goes to war just for the sake of battle. When you see nations going to war with each other, and lives being lost, it's because there's a dispute over territory. Such is the case saints in the Spirit realm. The bible clearly says that the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein (Psalm 24). The Crucifixion of Jesus and His Death was not just an act of Redemption, it was also an Act of War. The Crucifixion of Christ won back the title deed to the earth that the "first" Adam (1Corinthians 15) had forfeited in his disobedience to the Father. That's why Jesus said that all power (authority and rule) in heaven and earth, are in My Hands (Matthew 28). Now that the Father has restored legal authority of His earth back to man (humanity) through the Redemptive work of His Son, the earth can be restored and re-established under the ruling authority of the Kingdom of God. This is where the church comes in, because our job is to fight the forces of the kingdom of darkness, to reclaim what Jesus purchased through the shedding of His Blood.

We have the power saints (if we've learned to access it and operate in it). God The Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit are backing us. But somebody has to go out and fight. Somebody has to take a stand. Somebody has to be willing to stand up to the Goliaths. Somebody has to be willing to confront the Pharoahs. Somebody has to be willing to call out the Herods, even if it means having to get your head cut off. But the blessing is saints, The Victory is already ours! No weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54). Are you ready to take nations and regions for the Kingdom of God? Are you ready to see communities transformed in the name of Christ? Are you ready to see the Kingdom of God established in the very fabric of the culture of this nation? I am. If you are, then It's Time to Go To War.

The King Is Coming

Early this morning, a prophetic declaration went forth from the heavens. The prophet of God was instructed to announce to the whole world-THE KING IS COMING. The prophet received an open vision in the heavens, announcing The Coming of The King. 

Saints, let me reinforce the word that God is announcing from the Heavens to the entire world: THE KING IS COMING, THE KING "IS" COMING. As we celebrate this week of The Feast of Tabernacles, we want to remember that this season points prophetically to the Return of Christ to the earth, as KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. Could it be possible that The Father is ready to send His Son once again to the earth to establish His Kingdom? The exact time was not revealed, but one thing we know for certain, THE KING IS COMING.

I have often believed that there will come a time that, before Jesus returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20) and before what is doctrinally described as The Rapture (1Corinthians 15), He would return to the earth and reveal Himself to His people as the Head of the church and The King of the Kingdom of God. 

There have been several reports of different believers who have seen Jesus, Face to Face. There may be several reading this who have had an experience with Jesus. Maybe He appeared to you in a Vision. Maybe He appeared to you in person. Maybe He visited you in a dream. But you know, in your spirit, it wasn't your imagination, it was Jesus. I would say to you today my friends, THE KING IS COMING. 

I would strongly encourage you to prepare for a personal visitation from the Lord. Let me say it again, I would strongly encourage you to prepare for a Personal Visitation from the Lord Jesus Christ. I know this isn't something that's necessarily taught, let alone promoted, in the mainstream church. But it's definitely scriptural.

Most of us have been taught that the only time that we need to expect to see Jesus is when He returns at the end of the world. Wrong. This is not biblical. Paul states very specifically in 1Corinthians 15, that Jesus manifested Himself to over 500 brethren at once. After His Resurrection He manifested Himself to Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James (Mark 16). If Jesus is the same, Yesterday, Today and Forever (Hebrews 13), then if He appeared to His people then, why can't He do it now? Don't be restricted by church dogma and doctrine. Base your expectation on the revelation of the Spirit and the truth of the Word of God.


Finally Saints, and I hope you have ears to hear, Jesus is not the only King. Yes, Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Yes, all Power in Heaven and in Earth is in His Hands (Matthew 28). But remember, the Day will come, when the Son shall deliver the Kingdom to the Father (1Corinthians 15). 

Jesus sits at the Right Hand of the Throne of God (Hebrews 12). God the Father, Jehovah, is the TRUE KING, who has placed the Kingdom in the Hands of His Son. Could it be that God the Father, the TRUE KING, IS COMING? 

This is pure speculation. But one thing that is not speculative, according to the prophetic word that went forth from the Heavens today, is that THE KING IS COMING!!! Be ye also ready.

Preparation for Persecution

There is something that the Elect of God need to be mindful of as we progress through this Fall Season. We are about to embark upon a Season of Persecution. It may not be immediate, but it will be inevitable. Whatever the timeline may be, it is imperative during this Season that we begin to allow the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts and minds for the Persecution that is set to take place upon those who are sold out to Christ. 

The Bible says very clearly that any man or woman that will live godly, shall suffer persecution (2Timothy 3). I've stated before, maybe the reason the mainstream American church is not the victim of severe persecution is because maybe we're not living that godly. However, this is about to change. 

With the rise of perversion and outright defiance to the Word and Will of God, those who are being called to take a stand for the Kingdom of God will be challenged to put their lives at stake for the Gospel of the Kingdom. I can assure you, it will be worth it! But what we need to understand is that the days of "lukewarm Christianity" are over (Revelation 3). God is setting the stage to where, if you have made a profession of Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, your faith will either have to stand for that or be exposed. And remember what the Word says, if you deny him in front of men, He will deny you before the angels in heaven (Luke 12).


Why is this so important for such a time as this? Because saints, whether you realize it or not, there is an Anti-Christ Movement that is taking place in this nation. Because the nature of American society is that the majority rules (the spirit of democracy), even people in the church just tend to "go along to get along". But when the Lord releases Judgment upon this nation, there will be a Spiritual Divide that takes place in America, including in the church. 

There will be those that God has truly anointed that may have "strayed away" from the organized church, and the events of the day will prompt them to come back to their Foundation, which is Christ. They won't be seeking religion, they'll be seeking God! Then there will be those who may have been in church all their lives, or just the opposite, simply do not adhere to the belief in a "higher power."

The arrogance and hard-heartedness of both of these groups will allow them to continue to repudiate the Reality of a Supernatural God that can deliver and sustain in times of extreme Distress and Despair. Even though they will know they need Him, their pride will not allow them to repent and surrender. 

When this stage is set Saints, somebody will have to take a stand and shout from the mountaintops that it's time for America to RETURN BACK TO GOD!!! As needed as this message will be, it will still remain unpopular, because most of America will have to admit we've done it wrong. And as a result, there will be a backlash. However, for the Elect (not just the saved) this is what we're called to do, for such a time as this.

I hope you can receive this word, and are ready to allow the Holy Spirit to prepare you for this Season of Judgment. It will be like the old novel by Charles Dickens, it will be the "best of times" and "the worst of times". Which times it will be for you depend on where you stand in God. But be Encouraged saints. 

No matter what persecution or trials come our way, take confidence in what the Father said to His prophet Jeremiah, "they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee." (Jeremiah 1). Let us be diligent about the business of Preparation for Persecution.

The Feast of Tabernacles

Today marks the beginning of the 7 day Feast of Tabernacles, identified on the Hebrew calendar as "Sukkot". This Feast began last evening at sunset and is recognized on the 15th day of the first month of the Jewish New Year, five days after the Day of Atonement.

I truly believe that this year's Feast is extremely significant because this is the last major holiday going into the Fall of the year. I truly believe that when this Feast expires during the first week of October, we are going to begin to see the Hand of God move in the area of Judgment upon this nation.

The Feast of Tabernacles speaks prophetically of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the establishment of His Millennial Kingdom on earth (Revelation 20). It is understood that the only Feast that Jesus has not attended is the Feast of Tabernacles. He attended the Passover Feast with His Crucifixion, He attended the Feast of Pentecost with the Advent of the Holy Spirit and the birthing of the church. It is believed that when He returns to the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, it will be during this season of the Feast of Tabernacles. 

During this 7 Day Celebration, the Jews were instructed to live in booths (Leviticus 23). This was to acknowledge the Wilderness Journeyings that their forefathers endured upon their exodus from Egypt. It also was to demonstrate the temporal nature of our earthly existence as "pilgrims" on this planet, signifying that our true home is in Heaven with the Father. In practical celebration of this particular Feast, some Jews will actually pitch a tent, either in their backyard or in an open space, signifying the "booth" concept in accordance with the actual celebration of the Feast. If this is not necessarily feasible, then one can choose to maybe stay somewhere different during these 7 days (that's what I try to do) or even simply sleep in a different part of the house during the week than you normally do. The key is to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how He wants you to apply the principle personally of celebrating this Feast of Tabernacles during this Season.

Also I'd like to mention that it is not a coincidence that the Super Blood Moon that took place last evening, happened at the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feasts of the Father (Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles) are described in scripture as His Appointed Times (Leviticus 23). The Bible says that the sun, moon and stars are for "signs and for seasons" (Genesis 1). For God to Providentially allow the Super Blood Moon to occur for such a "time" as this, was a Sign to the earth during this Prophetic Season of the Feast of Tabernacles. Whether you personally witnessed the event (the Blood Moon) or not, understand the significance of what God is doing during this Season. 

It is also my limited understanding that when a Super Blood Moon takes place of this magnitude, it usually serves as an indication of something that is to take place in Israel. Please understand if you don't already, that everything in regards to God's Prophetic Timetable for the earth revolves around His Covenant with His Chosen Nation Israel (Romans 11). 

There is something about to break, Saints, in the earth. Now is the time to truly stay "hidden in Christ" (Colossians 3) and to diligently seek His rest (Hebrews 4). We can do this in part by celebrating this Feast of Tabernacles and truly remembering that this earth is not our home.

Living for the World to Come, Part 2

A few years ago I attended a funeral in West Virginia. There was a preacher who got up to make remarks. In the course of his comments, he made a statement that truly struck me. He said that one morning when he was up communing with God, the Lord said to him, "there's Another World". For some reason saints, that saying stuck with me. And it is the truth. There "is" Another World, another Dimension of Reality. This reality is called the Kingdom of God, and every born-again believer in Christ is called to operate in this New and Eternal Dimension. To not reach for this is to undermine and not fully understand what Jesus shed His Blood to purchase for you in the Covenant of Salvation and Redemption through His Blood.

The Dimension of the Kingdom of God is a Supernatural Dimension. The Kingdom of God is not based on the natural, it's based on the Supernatural. The impression that I get from the mainstream church is that we're scared of the Supernatural. Anything that doesn't register with our rationale and individual comprehension "can't be of God". This is incorrect. We are moving into a day where the Supernatural will be required just to survive. This is why the Lord has been training His saints, who are open to operating in this Dimension. We need to set the record straight: everything that Jesus did is what the Christian is supposed to do. Let me say it again, everything that Jesus did is what the Christian is supposed to do. So if Jesus walked on water, guess what, you're supposed to walk on water. If Jesus turned water into wine, guess what, you're supposed to turn water into wine. If Jesus healed the sick, then you're supposed to heal the sick. If Jesus raised the dead, then we are supposed to raise the dead. This is what it means to be Living for the World to Come. This is why the Word talks about in Hebrews chapter 6, "tasting...of the powers to come". The Power that is inherent in the Kingdom of Heaven is the power that we as Christians are supposed to be experiencing and demonstrating in this present age. In all your years of going to church, has anyone ever said to you that God "expects you" to work Miracles. Has anyone ever impressed upon you that God "expects you" to operate in the Supernatural Realm. This is not supposed to be the exception for just the "super-spiritual saints". This is supposed to be the norm for all Born-Again Believers in Christ.

The key saints is Mental Transformation. The scripture says in Romans chapter 12 to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The only reason we as the church and as believers in Christ are not operating regularly in Miracles, Signs and Wonders is because we don't "think" that we can. Our cognitive operation in regards to the things of God, just doesn't operate that way. It's time to change. You need to believe the Word of God, not your church upbringing. I'm not saying it's easy, but it's the Will of God. Let us break out of the traditional mode and cultural conditioning and conventional thinking. God is ready to release Greatness upon His Church. God is ready to release New Mantles of Power and Miracles and Divine Government. Saints, it's a Whole New World. And it's not the world of the "church", it's the World of the Kingdom. Don't get left behind. Set your heart to start Living for the World to Come.

Living for the World to Come

One of the hindrances to the witness of the church is our preoccupation with the things of the Natural. The physical and material realm has too strong of a hold on many of us who claim to be believers in Christ. The reason why this is an issue is because our origin and root is not based in this earthly realm. When we allow our social and cultural perspective to revolve primarily around the things of this world, it dampens our ability to be the light that God has called us to be. With this in mind, what we need to focus on, particularly for such a time as this, is Living for the World to Come.

There's an old saying that states, "you're so heavenly minded that you're no earthly good". Even though this sounds good, this is incorrect. You can never be so Heavenly minded that you're no earthly good. Now you can be too religious minded to be any earthly good, but not Heavenly minded. The reason I make this point is because the problem with the church is that we're not Heaven-Minded enough. The basis of our actions, the basis of our thinking, that which regulates who we are, should be based upon the Culture of Heaven, also described as the Kingdom of God. This is why, when Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He taught them, "thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6). The goal of the Christian is to make the reality of Heaven the reality in the earth realm. But if you're not focused, let alone aware, of the things of Heaven, the ways, the customs, the culture, you can't bring this prayer to fruition.

Jesus made it very clear when He was before Pontius Pilate, "My Kingdom is not of this world" (John 18). Saints, as ethereal as it may sound, we need to be seeking to operate "in another world". We need to be seeking to allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds so that we can actually learn to function in a different Dimension of Reality. This reality is called the Kingdom of God. But this is what has to be understood; the realm of the church and the Realm of the Kingdom are not synonymous. You can go to church, and you can even be saved, but not learn to operate in the Dimension of the Kingdom of God. It is indeed, Another World. We must learn to set our sights on living in this World and having our very lives be based upon this Eternal Reality. This is why Jesus taught, "seek ye first The Kingdom of God" (Matthew 6). He was talking about this New Dimension of Reality. I can assure you saints, "the world" as we know it is coming to an end. And I'm not talking about in the "bye and bye" or at the Ultimate Return (the Second Coming) of Jesus Christ. I'm talking about Divine Dynamics of Judgment that are about to be released from the heavens that are going to radically alter how life is lived on this planet, particularly in the United States of America. If you have taken the time to "un-plug" from this world's system, you will be more than grateful. It's time for all of the believers in Christ to be diligent in Living for the World to Come.

The Day of Atonement

Tomorrow marks the holiest day of the year on the Jewish Calendar, The Day of Atonement. This is the last of the 10 days of the Days of Awe, recognized by the Jews as the beginning of the year on the Hebrew Calendar. During biblical times during the time of the Levitical priesthood, once a year at this time, the High Priest would enter the Tabernacle into what was described as the Holy of Holies, the holiest section of the Tabernacle. The Holy of Holies is where the Ark of the Covenant resided, which represented the very Presence and Glory of God. This was not something to take lightly. If the High Priest did not enter the Holy of Holies exactly how God prescribed, they may not come out alive. This is why the High Priest would wear a string around his legs with bells, so that those who were outside, when they stopped hearing the ringing of the bells, would know he had died and could "pull him out" with the string as opposed to going in and getting him, thus subjecting themselves to death as well.

When the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies, he would take the blood of sacrifice from the animals (a lamb or a goat) and sprinkle it upon the Altar which was on top of the Ark of the Covenant. This Altar was described as The Mercy Seat and was positioned between the two Cherubim. The sprinkling of the blood was for the Atonement of the sins of the people before God. Once the High Priest carried out this function, then the sins of the people of God were forgiven for an entire year, until the Day of Atonement for the next year. This was an annual ritual that the Jews observed every year under the Mosaic Law.

Of course as Christians we don't have to recognize this practice ritually, because Jesus now serves as our High Priest and has made Atonement for our sins once and for all (Hebrews 7). However, even though we don't recognize this day ritually, we still need to celebrate it spiritually and celebrate the Atonement of our sins accomplished through the Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Once again, this is still a time for Self-Examination, Introspection and Repentance. Jesus died to reconcile us back to the Father. And one of the things I am learning is that if you're going to walk with God and work with God, you're going to have to be willing to Repent, even of things you didn't think you needed to repent from. That's why this Season is so Sacred. This is why that even as Christians, we need to recognize and celebrate these Holy Days, not because they're Jewish, but because they were ordained by our Heavenly Father and the Times and Seasons that He has ordained have not been altered. Let us honor God and honor the Son by taking seriously this Holy Day. Let us examine ourselves thoroughly and allow the Holy Spirit to truly put the search light on our hearts on this Day of Atonement.

The Shaking of America

Last year I received a prophetic word that the Lord was going to shake America. In 2011, a prophet of God was making preliminary remarks to a message that he was going to preach. In his remarks, he stated that if something didn't change with the course that America was on, that by 2015 we would witness an America that we "did not recognize". Another prophet of God, within the last two years, experienced a prophetic dream where the Lord woke them up saying very strongly, "America! America! America!". We are in some very precarious times in this nation right now. Now is not the time to be "idle" when it comes to our relationship with God. If there was ever a time that we need to "gird up the loins of our mind" (1Peter 1), it is now. Believe me my brothers and sisters, God is prepared to execute judgment for The Shaking of America.

We are still in the Jewish season of The Holy Days, generally recognized as The Days of Awe.  This is a time of Repentance. America needs to repent. We need to turn from our wicked ways and turn back to God. The Shaking that God has prepared for this country has been Divinely Designed to turn us back to the Lord as a nation. There are still many individuals who belong to the Lord and are serving Him faithfully, but the nation as a whole is not. The God-Consciousness of America is extremely low. There is an author by the name of Jonathan Cahn who has written a book entitled "The Mystery of the Shemitah". In this book, he details this ancient biblical mystery and shows how The Judgment of God has hit America over the last century during this Season of The Days of Awe and the corresponding time periods because of the Disobedience of America to the Will and Way of God. Stock market crashes, economic collapse, political uheavals, war defeats: all related to the Judgment of God upon this nation, The Shaking of America.

What Rabbi Cahn details in his book is that 2015 is the conclusion of this last cycle of "the Shemitah". In other words, according to the biblical pattern and consistency of the playing out of this ancient mystery in the history of America, Divine Judgment is just around the corner! I know everything seems peaceful right now, but remember, the Judgment of God is often Quick and Sudden. Disaster in America can strike quickly. Remember 9/11? The Day of Atonement, the last day of the Days of Awe, is in two days. It is prophetic that the Day of Atonement is the beginning of The Fall Season. Be not deceived saints. The time of Accountability is upon us. What we need to do now as believers is Pray. Pray that God will have mercy upon the United States of America. Once again, Pray that God will have mercy upon the United States of America. Pray that God will touch the heart of our President, Barack Obama, and let him see the error of his ways in using his presidential platform to pave the way for the legislation of same-sex marriage in this nation. Pray that God will release a spirit of repentance upon our nation, that we will turn back to God, submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and allow the Holy Spirit to renew us in the spirit of our minds, that we may be conformed to the Image of Christ. It's time saints. Play-time is over. It's time now to buckle down and sell out for God. For soon we will all be witnesses of The Shaking of America.

Good Kids v.s Godly Kids

Recently I saw the highly acclaimed film "War Room". Even though there were numerous aspects of the movie that were enlightening as well as inspiring, there was one particular scene that really caught my attention. There was a scene where the mother was talking to her daughter. She asked her daughter did she know that she loved her. The daughter responded with a bit of doubt to her parents' love. When the daughter began to ask her mother a series of significant questions about what was going on in her daughter's life, the mother was exposed as to how out of touch she was with her daughter's life. Which in turn made the daughter question her parent's true love for her.

This scene really struck me because it made me wonder how many children are growing up in homes where, obviously the parents love their children, but at the same time, demonstrate a level of neglect that makes the child question the true love of their parents. This type of void and insecurity, I believe, is what leads to teen-age pregnancies, drug addiction and all types of juvenile delinquency related to peer pressure and lack of proper self-esteem. And what really blew my mind about it was, by all appearances (and of course it was just a movie), this seemed like a good kid.

Saints, in our churches, in our communities, in our families and particularly in our homes, we have a lot of good kids, but we don't necessarily have a lot of godly kids. I'm sure most of us know at least one family where there was a "good kid" that went bad. We scratch our heads and are befuddled how this could occur. One of the reasons is because good is no longer "good enough". We must instill "godly fear" into our children. Not fear in terms of them being "afraid" of God, but fear in terms of them having a "holy reverence" for God.

An apostle told me nearly a year or so ago, that God "has a Generation to bring forth". It is imperative for such a time as this, that we make sure that we are making a significant investment in the lives of our children. We must spend time with our kids. I'm not just talking about one's "biological" children. I'm talking about children in general. Whether it be children in our neighborhoods, children in our churches or children in our families that are not directly "ours". And once we invest in them emotionally, we must then invest in them spiritually. We must introduce our children to a genuine relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Going to church is not enough. Our kids now must know Jesus. It's time saints. As we progress through the second half of this second decade of the 21st century, we must make sure that we're raising Godly Kids, not just good kids.

The Democratization of the Church

One of the biggest challenges of the church that is affecting our witness is our lack of understanding of Rank. The God we serve is a God of Order. The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of Order. With this in mind, it needs to be understood that every Kingdom, secular or spiritual, is established by rank and order. Everyone is not equal. Without this understanding, the people in the respective kingdom will ignore rank, and thus be out of order. We find this type of disorder in the church because the mainstream church doesn't adhere always to the Rank and Order established in the Kingdom of God. Church polity and bureaucracy is not synonymous with the Rank and Order of the Kingdom. A lot of this is due to what I'd like to describe as the Democratization of the Church.

Let us first establish that the church is not a Democracy it is a Theocracy. In a democracy, the people rule. In a Theocracy, God rules. This is extremely significant, because even though we (in America) live in a democracy, the government of the church is not regulated by the principles of a democracy. This is why the scripture stresses "not to be conformed to this world" (Romans 12). The way the world runs their organizations is not how God runs His church. So the church is not a democracy, she is a Theocracy. God rules. And when you understand this, the next item to understand is how God rules and runs His church through a Theocratic Government.

Let us first establish the order of the church. Christ is the Head of the church. Jesus the Christ, the Savior of the world, is the Head of the church, The Body of Christ (Colossians 1). So Christ is the Head of the Church, and the Holy Spirit is the Leader of the church (Acts 20). This is the Theocratic form of Leadership that God the Father has ordained for His Covenant people, in and through His Son, during this dispensation of Grace. Therefore, if a believer is going to truly govern themselves as a child of God and a believer in Christ, they must understand the Headship of Christ and the Leadership of the Holy Spirit.

The next thing that we need to understand about the Theocratic Rule of God in His church is that He rules through human instruments. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 12) as the Head of the Church, but He runs His church through human individuals. This is why you have different officers and leaders in the church. It is imperative, as we embark upon this Kingdom Move, that Christians understand how God has structured the government of the church through His human servants. One of the biggest mistakes that the mainstream church has made is to think that the pastor is the highest ranking officer in the church. This is incorrect. One of the reasons why the mainstream American church has not operated in Kingdom Power is because we've set the bar too low in terms of ecclesiastical leadership. According to the word of God, the order for leadership in the Body of Christ is apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4). I did not grow up in the church understanding the office of the Apostle. All I knew was the office of the pastor. And for many years, I actually thought that present-day apostles did not exist. I was sadly mistaken. We must get back to the order that God has established for His church.

The days of the church being run by "democratic" councils and committees and boards are over. Yes, there should be input and feedback from representative members of the congregation. But at the end of the day, God has the last word! And that word is communicated through the officers that He has established for His church. Let us take heed, and forsake the Democratization of the Church.

Falling Short

As we enter the Judgment Season of the Holy Days, my concern for many of the saints is that we are not properly positioned for the Move that God is ready to release in the earth and particularly in this nation (America). A prophetic word has already gone forth that between the middle of October and the very beginning of November, God is going to move in a Miraculous Way. But it may very well be a Move that, in order to participate and not simply observe, you have to be properly  prepared and properly positioned. If proper preparation and positioning have not taken place at the Appointed Time of the Father, you will witness many believers be victims of Falling Short of the Grace of God.

The scripture says in Hebrews chapter 12, "looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God" (New King James Version). One might ask, how do you fall short of God's Grace? One of the shortcomings of the faith of the church is our lack of understanding of the full depth and breadth of the Grace of God. The conventional definition of Grace is God's Unmerited Favor. This is correct, but God's Grace is not limited to this very narrow and succinct definition. God's Grace can also be described as God's Unconditional Acceptance of us, In Spite of us (Ephesians 1). This is accurate as well, but not totally sufficient. To get an even better grasp of the Grace of God, we need to go to the first chapter of the Gospel of Saint John. In that chapter the word says, "and of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace". There is a Grace that God gives the believer for right judicial standing with Him (Romans 5), and then there's a Grace that God gives the believer in order that we may become all that God has ordained us to be. The objective of salvation is to be conformed to the Image of Christ (Romans 8). In order for this Divine Objective to be fulfilled in our lives it takes Grace. This is the Grace that many believers are Falling Short of, and it will be exposed as we progress through this Season if some serious adjustments and changes are not made.

If you look at the rest of the text (Hebrews 12), you'll find some of the reasons why we as children of God Fall Short of the Grace that God has made available to us in order be in Him where He's ordained us to be. One of those is Bitterness. Saints, I strongly urge you, if you have an offense against anyone, any unresolved grudge or grievance against a brother or sister, work it out now! Don't continue to continue to proceed through this Season with bitterness and malice and unforgiveness in your heart. This is not the Will of God, and it will make you Fall Short. The other reason noted is Self-Indulgence. The specific reference in the text is that of Esau. The scripture says that "when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected". My concern is that there will be more than a few believers who were set up to inherit the Blessing that the Father had prepared for them, but will forfeit it because they could not deny their fleshly appetites and desires. Remember the theme of this Season saints, Repentance. Let us remain attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit so that we will not be guilty of Falling Short.

The Days of Awe

Apples, honey and shofar are traditional
items for the Jewish New Year

Today marks the beginning of the Hebrew Calendar New Year. In Hebrew the day is identified as Rosh Hashana. It's also identified as the Feast of Trumpets. 

This is significant because it also marks the beginning of the New Year for God. Even though it's not mentioned often in the mainstream church, the Feast Days of God are still very significant to Him and still extremely relevant as it relates to His dealings with His Covenant people. 

What the church needs to understand and embrace is that even though the church is recognized as the Covenant People of God through the shed Blood of Jesus Christ, God has not nullified His Covenant with the Jews which was established through Abraham (Romans 11). 

One of the biggest mistakes the church has made is to sever the ties with our Jewish roots. We need to keep in mind that Jesus is a Jew! And yes, even though there is no Jew or Greek in Christ (Galatians 3), that spiritual reality does not alter His ethnic background. Therefore, the church needs to return to her Jewish roots in worshiping Jehovah through the Blood Covenant of His Son, Jesus the Christ.

In recognizing the Jewish New Year with Rosh Hashana (September 14, 2015), we also want to recognize the subsequent 9 days as well. The period from Rosh Hashana to the Day of Atonement (which in Hebrew is identified a Yom Kippur) is a total of 10 days. These 10 days are recognized as The Days of Awe. The 10 days from Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur are recognized as Holy Days. This is not a period that should be taken lightly. Once again, I'm aware that this is not a Season that the mainstream church generally subscribes to, but we need to. These days are sacred and holy before God, and as His people we need to place the appropriate significance upon them and govern ourselves accordingly.

The general thrust and focus of this Season is repentance. This is a time of internal reflection and examination. This is a time where we need to allow the Holy Spirit to shine the light on our hearts and souls and reveal to us those areas that need to be worked on and addressed, so that we can be in alignment with the Father going into the New Year. 

This is not a time to just "go with the flow." This is not a time to just be "busy and running around." This is a time of contemplation. This is time of introspection. This is a time to put the search light on your heart and see what areas for which you need to repent. Remember, repentance isn't always about overt sin. 

Generally, when we think of repentance, we think of being remorseful (godly sorrow) about something that we've done wrong or some sin we might be caught up in. If this is applicable to your personal situation, indeed go before the Lord and take these concerns to Him. But a lot of times, when the Holy Spirit moves during this Season amongst His people, He's not always identifying sin. He's identifying areas that need to rectified in the course of our relationship with God. 

Already the Lord has revealed some things to me for which I need to repent, and they are not related to sins I am currently committing. He's addressing certain areas of commitment and devotion that I need to address, if I'm going to walk and work with Him successfully in this New Year. Also, repentance doesn't just mean "to turn around," it also means to think again. There are some things that the Holy Spirit is going to reveal during this Season that are going to challenge you to "think again." Your thinking, your perspective, your position, may have been a bit "skewed" as it relates to the Divine Position of God. This will be a time where God exposes that and allows you to repent, think again, in regards to that particular matter.

I would advise everyone to go on some type of fast during this Season. What type of fast you undergo is between you and the Lord, but I would strongly recommend that you implement some type of deliberate "self-denial" during these 10 days so that you will have the necessary capacity to receive from the Spirit what the Lord would have you to rectify and examine going into this New Year.

 Also, be aware of your dreams. The dreams you have during these 10 days won't be arbitrary (not that any of them are). They will be specific to the things that God is trying to get your attention on, so that you will consciously come to Him and have Him work you through them during this period. The Lord may also give dreams to other people regarding you, revealing areas that He would have you to address to be in proper alignment with His Will for your life. I know He's done that with me in the past during this Season of the year, and it has been very, very challenging. So don't resist the revelation, be open. That's why it would be good to fast.

We are entering a season of judgment, Saints. The Bible says that if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged (1Corinthians 11). Let us take advantage of this season (September 14-September 23) and truly allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the areas the Father wants us to examine and to repent. Let us honor the Days of Awe.

Fighting for the Relationship

One of the things that I am learning is that when it comes to significant relationships, particularly dear friends and family members, if you want these relationships to survive, you have to learn to fight for them. A lot of times when it comes to relationships and people we love, we tend to let disagreements, conflict, and even distance, allow us to drift away from certain people, who at one time we were very, very close to. 

What I am learning is that, if a person and that relationship means enough to you, you can't afford to just "go with the flow."  You can't just allow it to dissipate and disintegrate. You have to fight! I believe this is an issue in many marriages. When things get rocky with their spouse (and they inevitably do), people just tend to give up and give in to the emotions and feelings at the time. This is not the will of God. Once you've made those vows to your spouse and to God, you literally have to fight for the marriage. However, this principle isn't just applicable to marriage, but all relationships that we deem worthy of maintaining.

I believe that this same principle applies to our relationship with God. There are times where, if the relationship is going to be all that God has ordained it to be, we have to fight for it. That's why the Scripture says to "fight the good fight of faith" (1Timothy 6). Too many times, even with our relationship with God, we tend to just "go with the flow." We don't have a sense of urgency and deliberation to our pursuit of God. I hear several people these days claim to be Christians, but I wonder if they're really "seeking His Face" (Psalm 27). The Scripture says in the fourth chapter of Hebrews that we need to "labor to enter into His rest." 

Then, when times get rough, a lot of times instead of seeking the Lord even more diligently, we let circumstances and situations take us away from God. We allow our feelings to overwhelm our spirit. It is at these times that we have to Fight. We have to fight for our faith. We have to fight for our praise. We have to fight to pray. We have to fight to serve. We have to cultivate a mentality that says, I'm not going to just lie down when the Enemy attacks, I'm going to fight so that the Divine will of God may be manifested in my life.

The motivation for this fight should grow out of the fact that Jesus fought to have a relationship with us. It would have been "extremely convenient" for the Father to allow us to simply go to Hell. But He loves humanity too much for that. Jehovah paid the price of sending His Only Begotten Son to the earth to die for the sins of the world (John 3). Then think of what Jesus had to fight through in order to serve as the Savior of the world, just so that humanity could be redeemed back to the Father. The Bible says He came unto His own and His own received Him not (John 1). So He had to experience rejection. Then He had to experience extreme ridicule and persecution from the Pharisees and Sadducees, as well as scrutiny from His own family members (John 7). Then, before He was crucified, He was in such agony that He was sweating blood (Luke 22). And let's not even mention the agony, brutality and unimaginable suffering that He experienced in Bearing the Cross. Jesus fought to save humanity from our sins! And He did it for us! 

Therefore, if Jesus can fight in order that we might have an eternal relationship with Him, we must learn to fight through the pain, fight through the disappointment, fight through the frustration, fight through the temptation, fight through the flesh, fight through the fear. Saints, now is the time to fight for our relationship with God.

The Kingdom Constituency

Every nation, country or sovereign entity that has the responsibility of representing and serving a particular segment of society, has a constituency. If you are an American citizen, then you represent the constituency of the United States of America. If you are a supporter of the Democratic Party, then you are a part of that constituency. If you are a resident of a particular state, or city, or county, then you are a part of that constituency. The key to a certain constituency is that it is represented by a group for which it finds itself a part of.

This is the case with the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God has a particular constituency, a group of people for whom the Kingdom of God represents. And let me say very quickly, contrary to probably popular opinion, that constituency is not the church. Yes, the church is "supposed" to represent the constituency of the Kingdom, but not necessarily so. 

The Constituency of the Kingdom of God are the downtrodden, the oppressed, the downcast, the poor, the indigent, the abused, the ostracized, the polarized, the exploited and the isolated. It's the group of people that nobody, from a societal standpoint, really cares about. This, my brothers and sisters, is the Constituency of the Kingdom. This is the group that Jesus represents as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is the group for which Jesus targeted His Message of the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 24). Jesus didn't go to the rich and wealthy. He didn't appeal to the "middle class" or the upwardly mobile. He came to lift up those who couldn't lift up themselves. This is the Kingdom Constituency.

Why is this important? Because when this next move of God hits, in what I believe will be shortly, we as the people of God will need to understand who the Kingdom of God is targeted for. As contradictory as this may sound, the Kingdom of God is not for the church. The responsibility of the church is to serve and worship the King. As we serve and worship the King, our Savior, we then become ambassadors for the Kingdom of God (2 Corinthians 5). This is the role of the church in the Kingdom. But those who have been ordained to "receive" the Kingdom, are those who aren't in position to help themselves. This was Jesus' Message after He came out of the Wilderness with power (Luke 4), "the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor..."

If we are to truly become workers in the Kingdom of God, not just workers in the church, we must come to realize that the Kingdom of God is an actual Political Entity. I know people promote "separation of church and state" and advocate that the church doesn't get involved in politics; but we have to understand that Jesus got crucified "because" of politics. King is a political title, not a religious one. And Jesus makes it very clear that He was "born" King of the Jews (John 18). Every king or political ruler has a certain constituency for which they target to build their kingdom around. Jesus is no different. It is the poor, the homeless, the fatherless, the widows, the disenfranchised, this is the Constituency that Jesus came to serve as King.

But remember, He died for the whole world. And when He was raised from the dead, He made it explicitly clear to His disciples that all power in Heaven and in Earth, was in His hands (Matthew 28). Therefore saints, His Domain is the Universe. But those for whom He serves and offers the Kingdom to, are not the religious, it's the poor in spirit (Matthew 5). It's those who don't have the money to wield political representation. It's those who didn't have the upbringing to "get an education" or to go to college. It's those who didn't have an advocate when the demons of abuse victimized them. And if we're going to be His representatives in the earth, then we must be mindful and sensitive to who represents the Kingdom Constituency.

Proven Obedience

If you witness how God consistently deals with His servants, you will find that one of the premium requirements that God establishes for those He's going to use in His Kingdom Advancement, is obedience. 

The God we serve is a God of obedience. If you can't be obedient to God, you can't work with God. Let me say it again, if you can't be obedient to God, you can't work with God. Now, interestingly enough, you can work for God, but you can't work with God. There is a difference. And the difference is the level for which God chooses to work, with and through you. If you want to be an instrument of Kingdom advancement and establishment in this next season, it's going to take more than your gift and your anointing, it's going to require obedience.

You'll notice that when God first "hired" the first king of Israel, Saul, he didn't stay in the office long. The reason why is because he couldn't be Obedient. When God gave him a direct command through the prophet Samuel (1Samuel 15), Saul was negligent in doing all that God had commanded him to do. For the record Saints, partial obedience is disobedience. And once God saw that Saul was not going to be implicitly obedient to Him as His Master and King, consequently, he got fired as the king of Israel. 

This is the same thing that happened to Adam in the Garden of Eden. We can talk about Eve all we like, but the Covenant of being the Federal Representative of humanity was made with Adam, not Eve (Romans 5). And as a son of God and the ruler of the earth (Genesis 1), Adam was expected to be obedient, regardless of what his wife said. The placement of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden was a Test. Please understand saints, God is going to test you. He's not going to tempt you, but He is going to Test you. Why? Because He wants to see if you are going to be Obedient. Of course He already knows, but the issue for us as His creation, is the issue of proven obedience. And in both cases, with Saul and with Adam, because of their refusal, not inability, to obey the Sovereign God, they abdicated the authority that GOD had bestowed upon them.

But not everybody was disobedient. When God told Abraham to take his son Isaac and sacrifice him to Him, Abraham was Obedient (Genesis 22). One of the greatest examples of Obedience was Jesus in the Wilderness. Remember, before Jesus went into the Wilderness to be tempted of the devil, He had just been baptized by John the Baptist. This was more than just a baptism, this was Jesus' official Inauguration into the Office of the Son of God. Yes He had been the Son of God since His birth, and acknowledged it publicly at the age of 12 years old (Luke 2). But when the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove, and the Father publicly voiced His Divine approval of His Son, this is when Jesus officially began to function in the Office as the Son of Man and the Son of God (the official Office Adam maintained before the Fall, 1Corinthians 15). However, even with being Inaugurated in this Office by the Father, He still had to demonstrate proven obedience.

But of course, the greatest act of obedience was Jesus' Death on the Cross. After having lived a sinless life for 33 years. After demonstrating the most spectacular ministry the world has ever seen, He then had to die, brutally, for a crime that He did not commit. And He did this primarily, because of His ultimate commitment to demonstrate proven obedience to the Father. 

A prophet of God said to me a couple of years ago, a true son is obedient unto death. Please saints, when God promotes you, and establishes you, and blesses you in this next season, think it not strange that He allows some "interesting" circumstances to come your way that will tempt you and try your faith (James 1). You haven't done anything wrong, and God has not "left you."  He's simply setting the stage to test you, for proven obedience.

Don't Let It Be Too Late

Saints, we are almost there. September 14 marks the beginning of the New Year on the Hebrew Calendar, God's Timeline. I can assure you that once we go into the New Year on the Jewish Calendar, you're going to see the Manifestation of some major, major shifts in the earth and in the Spirit Realm. If you haven't prepared yourself, now is the time to do so. We're literally at the final hour; and when God closes the door, no man will be able to open it (Revelation 3). My concern for the church right now is that if we're not careful, we will become the victims of Waiting Too Late.

I've said consistently that the Judgment of God is pending for America. You don't slap God in the face with blasphemous legislation like Same-Sex Marriage, and not think that as a nation you won't be held nationally accountable to God. And with no signs of national repentance for our gross insult of God, Divine Judgment awaits this country. But remember what the Bible says, Judgment must first start in the House of God (1Peter 4). So, before the Judgment of God fully takes place in America, the church must first experience Judgment. Let me clarify once again that Judgment doesn't always have to be bad or negative. Judgment doesn't mean punishment, it means deliberation and evaluation. Therefore, Judgment can be good or bad. Just like a judge in a court can pronounce a verdict of guilty, they can also pronounce a verdict of non-guilty. Either way, Judgment has taken place. So when God commences to Judge His people, not all Judgment will be of a "negative" nature. As a matter of fact, for those who have been faithful and diligent, the Judgment will manifest itself in terms of promotion and rewards. But the prerequisite for a Judgment in the positive light will be faithfulness and obedience. However, this is something that would have had to been developed. Don't Let it be Too Late.

When reading the 14th chapter of Numbers, we find that the children of Israel where divinely instructed to go up and possess the Promised Land. They sent  12 spies to search out the land and bring back a report to the people. Let me first ask, have you taken the time to seek out what God has Promised for you? Are you in touch with the Blessings and Promises that the Father has specifically reserved for you? If you are not, then more than likely, your motivation level for pressing into the deeper things of God is probably at a low level. We as the children of God, must be incentivized to seek God by what He has said He has in store for us, individually as well as collectively. The problem was, once the report was given, a spirit of fear was imparted. Let me ask you, for those who have received a glimpse of the Promises God has ordained for you in this next season, are you scared? Nothing's wrong with being reticent, or understanding your own personal limitations, but when fear paralyzes you to the point where you don't proceed into the path that God has prescribed for you, then that fear is not of God. God told Joshua over and over again before he entered the Promised Land, be strong and of good courage (Joshua 1). God can't use any "fraidy cats" for what He's about to do in ushering forth His Kingdom.

As you read the end of the story, after the children of Israel had murmured and complained and threatened the leadership of God, they "changed their minds" and told Moses they were ready to enter the Promised Land. The only problem was, it was too late. They had missed their window of opportunity to take advantage of what God had in store for them. My concern saints is that there are too many believers that are in genuine covenant with the Father through the Blood of His Son Jesus Christ, but their lack of faith and lack of obedience will preclude them from Crossing Over into the Kingdom Realm that God is ready to release into the earth. And once they see the miracles and the blessings and the supernatural manifestations that God will be performing in this next season, they will then want to "get in" on the deal. But it will be too late then. The necessary preparation will not have transpired and they therefore won't qualify to operate in that Realm. I strongly urge you saints, Don't Let It Be Too Late.

Don't Settle, Part 2

Don't settle. Keep moving forward.

I want to encourage the Saints, again with this same exhortation, don't settle. I feel compelled to be redundant, do not allow the spirit of complacency to deceive you into settling for less than what God has in store for you. 

There are some "choice" blessings that God has reserved in Heaven with your name on it. But the only way you can receive that for which God has ordained for you is to keep striving and pressing for His Divine will for your life. There is danger to Settling, and that is you can actually forfeit the Blessing that God has originally ordained for you.

When looking at the story of Esau and Jacob, we see that even though God declared from the mother's womb that the elder would serve the younger (Genesis 25), Esau as the elder actually held the birthright. But he forfeited the Blessing because he chose to Settle. He didn't value properly what God had bestowed upon him, therefore he was willing to depart with it prematurely (Genesis 25). Some us, in our state of Settling, are ignoring the blessings and gifts that God has already deposited within us. No, the gifts haven't totally blossomed yet or created certain opportunities. But that doesn't make them any less divine or any less valuable. Instead of being frustrated and settling for where you are with no ambition and no drive, you need to do what Paul admonished Timothy to do, stir up the gift (2Timothy 1).

Because Esau didn't value what God had bestowed upon him, he "sold it" for a morsel of meat (Hebrews 12). When you become Settled with where you are, not with where God is taking you, you become a "sell-out." That's what Esau was, he was a "sell out."  Not for the Lord, but for that which was going to satisfy his appetite. 

How many of us have sold God out to appease our appetites: our appetite for attention, our appetite for companionship, our appetite for acceptance, our appetite for pleasure, our appetite for comfort? We've sold God out. Not because we don't love Him per se, but because we've settled. And when you settle, you end up choosing a preference that does not reflect God's Divine will for your life.

But then Esau woke up. He got it. When he actually realized what he had done, he regretted his decision and regretted his mistake. But at that point, it was too late. The decision was already made. The Bible says that "when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected:...though he sought it carefully with tears." (Hebrews 12). His emotional response and remorse was irrelevant at this point, because his decision to settle was already, settled. 

Saints, be leery, there are some decisions that some of us are making that are going to disqualify us from inheriting the blessing for which we were originally ordained. By the time Esau discovered the error of his ways, it was too late. Saints, don't let it be said that it was too late for you. Don't settle.

Don't Settle

Don't settle. Keep moving forward.

One of the greatest threats to excellence and achievement is a spirit of complacency. There's something about familiarity and convenience that saps the drive out of people for greatness and the extraordinary. Let me say very quickly that this is not of God. The God we serve is a God of Excellence. Everything He does is the Best! So we as His children should not do otherwise. However, there are more than a few believers who have been afflicted and infected by this spirit of complacency, and the word that I want to give to all of is, don't settle.

It's easy to get comfortable with where you are. No struggle, no strife, no stress; all of this sounds like the way to go. However, all of these "preferences" are simply a recipe for mediocrity. We don't serve a mediocre God. Therefore, as the children of God, we cannot afford to become complacent. We can't afford to "settle."

Regardless of what area it is in your life, you don't need to settle for "less than" or "good enough." You need to expect God's Best. And you receive God's Best by giving your best. That doesn't mean that you "are" the best, or even that you're "at your best"; but it means that you're being diligent to give the best that you have to whatever situation you find yourself in.

Some of us are settling for mediocre marriages. Some of us are settling for average children. Some of us are settling for "ok" jobs. Some of us are settling for "lukewarm" churches and sub-par spirituality. I want to say again, this is not the will of God. If your marriage is not where it needs to be, don't settle. If you're not working a job that maximizes your gifts and talents, don't settle. If you're in a church where you know there's a spiritual ceiling and your growth has become environmentally stunted, don't settle. You've got to believe that God has more in store for you. But remember, God acts according to our faith. So if you don't believe, God is not obliged to move on your behalf (Matthew 9).

What will allow us not to settle is to have the Word of God established as the Standard of our lives. The reason why mediocrity and average is prevailing in so many believers' lives is because we're no longer being regulated by the Will and Word of God. I didn't say we don't "believe" the Word of God, I said we're not regulated by the Word of God. When your heart and mind is regulated by the Word of God, then the standard is set, whether you're living up to it or not. You know that, whether you're in alignment with the Will of God or not, you know what that standard is. And because of your love for God, you press and you strive to have God's Divine will manifested and performed in your life. 

So, no matter how many times you fall, no matter how many times you fail, you keep on striving, you keep on pressing. That's what it means not to settle.  You never get to a point where you grow satisfied or content with that which God has not ordained for you. This is what Jesus means by "keeping His Commandments" (John 14). Pleas Saints, whatever you do, don't settle. 

A Set-Up for a Showdown

In Morehead, Kentucky, a young woman by the name of Kim Davis has taken a stand against Same-Sex Marriage. As County-Clerk, she has made the decision not to issue any marriage licenses since the Supreme Court ruling in June legalizing same-sex marriage in this country. I firmly support this Woman of God in the stand she is taking. God has given her much grace and wisdom in the stand that she's taking for the Lord. She's made it very clear that she's not fighting against the "gay community", but rather she is taking a stand for Marriage and God's Word.

I've often wondered why the Lord allowed same-sex marriage to be legalized in this nation, particularly when the saints were so "fervently" praying against it (James 5). But now it makes more sense. God is setting this nation up for a Showdown! And if you know anything about God, when He shows up for a Showdown, He SHOWS OUT! (1Kings 18)  Hallelujah! That's what He's getting ready to do in America. He's setting the stage to see who's really on "the Lord's side". And as He does this, as one prophet recently informed me, there will be no "middle ground". The days of the "lukewarm Christian" are over (Revelation 3). We can no longer be "middle of the road" Christians. It's time to be sold-out and get on Fire for God!

In the Bible, we see an example of a Showdown between God and the false gods in 1Kings chapter 18. This is the story where the prophet Elijah calls fire down from Heaven after the false gods could not deliver. However, within this Showdown, as God proves who the REAL GOD IS, Elijah asks a very significant question: how long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow Him. If you talk to most Christians, they will tell you that they're sold out for the Lord and that they're not "wavering " between two opinions about who God is. Oh contraire saints. This is the deception that the Lord is getting ready to break totally down in the Body of Christ. What God's looking for now are not just believers but sons and daughters of God (2Corinthians 6). We've got enough people going to church. But how many professing Christians do we really have that are "seeking the Lord". But here's the litmus test for you to examine for yourself your "lukewarmness". How much have you been willing to let God get you out of your "Comfort Zone"? That's it saints. There are several believers that I talk to and have known, that I believe "genuinely" love the Lord. But they won't let God stretch them. I've been in churches to where, it's alright if the Spirit moves, just as long as He moves within the context and framework of our established ecclesiastical culture. No saints! God doesn't care about the "structure" or culture of our churches; He cares about His Glory! And He's going to get it, WITH US OR WITHOUT US. The choice, of course, is our's.

I thank God for Kim Davis. I thank the Lord for her Witness, I thank the Lord for her Courage, and I thank the Lord for her Devotion and Commitment to Him. She's getting death threats because of the stand she's taking for the Lord. Needless to say, they're threatening to take her job. But we know that the God we serve has the Last Word! Not the Supreme Court. Are you ready to take that type of stand for the Lord? Are you willing to sacrifice to Him and for Him, so that His Divine Will may be manifested in and through your life? I can assure you, wherever you are in your walk with the Lord, He's setting you up for a Showdown.

Follow the Script

God has a Calling and Purpose for all of our lives. No one is here by accident. God Intentionally placed every human being on this planet to glorify Him. However, one of the reasons why a lot of the Divine Purposes that God has ordained for the earth go unfulfilled is because we don't Follow the Script. There are a lot of people, particularly Christians, that are aware of the fact that God has a Divine Design for their lives. They're in touch with the various gifts that God has deposited within them. They're in pursuit of greatness, and want to be a part of the greater good. The problem is, they're not Following the Script. For such a time as this and for the Season for which we are about to embark, it is imperative that we not just be aware of God's Calling for our lives, we must learn to Follow the Script.

Many times the history of humanity in regards to the Sovereignty of God is referred to as an unfolding drama of Redemption. And saints it is just that, A Drama. Whether we realize it or not, we truly are "actors on a screen" fulfilling a Drama that has already been written by God. Do you know that your life has already been planned by God from beginning to end? God not only knows what you're already going to do, He also knows what He's already ordained you to do. This is the mystery of humanity. This is why the challenge in relating to God is walking by faith, because He already knows the Plan, but we do not. But if we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, God will give us the script. What a script does for an actor (or actress) is to define the role of their character and give them the lines for what they're to say for each scene. And the movie goes along fine, just as long as the actors Follow the Script.

God has a script already pre-written for your life. Before you were in your mother's womb, your role, your character, and your script had already been assigned to you (Jeremiah 1). And if you want to be successful and truly have the Divine Will of God manifested in your life, you need only do one thing, Follow the Script. In the script God has already ordained who your parents would be. In the script He's already ordained where you would be born. In the script He's already ordained what gender you would be. In the script He's already ordained what your ethnicity would be. These are not major issues for us because we pretty much figure those things are generally "outside of our control". But please understand, in the script that God has already written for your life, He's already ordained who your spouse would be. In the script, He's already ordained how many children you would have. In the script, He's already ordained what your career would be, where you would live, and the list goes on. However, in these areas, we get to "decide" if we're going to Follow the Script or not. Sadly to say, most people, including Christians, don't.

The Person who Followed the Script better than any person who's ever walked this planet was Jesus Christ. What made Jesus special was not just that He was the Only Begotten Son of God, but that He Followed the Script just as the Father had written it out. He did nothing (and still doesn't today) unless the Father had given Him Divine Clearance. When you read the scriptures, Jesus says, "all this was done that the scriptures...might be fulfilled" (Matthew 26). When you break down the word "scripture" you get script---ure. your script. This is the key saints. Follow the Script. Follow the Word. Follow the Path and the Pattern that God has already ordained. Don't try to improvise, don't try to be creative, don't be a solo artist, Follow the Script. The script has already been written before the Beginning of Time. All you have to do now is follow it.

The Prerequisite for Paradise

When we study the Book of Genesis, and God's creation of Adam and Eve, we find that God created them in an environment of Paradise (Genesis 1). Sin was not a factor in the human equation. Humanity was created in a state of Innocence; they knew no wrong and they knew no evil. All they knew was God. This was Paradise. There were no barriers between man and God. No hindrances, no blockades. No sin. Humanity and God had Perfect Communion. This was Paradise. Satan was not even a factor. Even though the belief is that he was still lurking around and that man had to be on guard for him (Genesis 1), man still had dominion in the earth realm, and that dominion included Satan and his legion of demons. This was Paradise. However, in one moment, Paradise was lost. And it was lost because Adam failed to comply with what I'd like to describe as the Prerequisite for Paradise. If Adam had just been committed to one thing, Paradise could have been preserved on the earth.

Let me state very quickly that the Potential for Paradise has been restored. That's what the Redemptive Work of Christ achieved through His Death, Burial and Resurrection. The manifestation of the Paradise of God in the earth realm is now called The Kingdom of God. It was the Kingdom of God in the Garden of Eden, but the dominion of man had not yet been tainted with sin. By the Blood of Jesus, this dominion has been restored. But one of the reasons why we still don't see more of the Paradise of God in the earth realm (The Kingdom) is because man still hasn't fully grasped The Prerequisite for Paradise. Jesus mastered it.

The Prerequisite for Paradise and the manifestation of the Kingdom of God is contingent upon one primary thing, man's ability to submit to the Boundaries of God. When you read the second chapter of Genesis, God gave Adam one commandment, one. Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God didn't tell man not to lie, He didn't tell him not to cheat, He didn't tell him not to steal; He told him not to eat...from one particular tree. So the issue was not sin, the issue was Boundaries. Saints, this is still an issue for a lot of Christians today. There are certain and specific commandments that God gives His servants that He expect us to fulfill. God knows we're not going to be perfect; that's why He sent His Son to die for all of our sins. But remember, Jehovah is still the Emperor of the Universe. So when He gives a Direct Command, to disregard it is not simply disobedience, it's rebellion. This was the issue in the Garden of Eden, and this is the issue today. God has certain limits that He has ordained for His people, and it is incumbent upon us to fully submit and subscribe to what the Father has ordained and decreed for our lives. If we do not, we forfeit the Rule of God and the manifestation of the Kingdom of God. When this happens, Satan is given the right to rule in the earth realm and literally, all hell breaks loose. We as the people of God have been empowered through Christ to defeat the Enemy and restore the Kingdom to the earth. But we must adhere to the Prerequisite for Paradise.