One of the primary prerequisites for being a Disciple of Christ is the carrying of one's cross. Jesus makes it clear in the 16th chapter of the Gospel of Saint Matthew that if one desires to be His Disciple they must take up their cross. What I'm learning though, is that it takes Capacity to Bear the Cross. The Call to the Cross is not an easy one, and one that few Christians, unfortunately, choose to bear. However, I don't believe it 's simply a matter of refusal or blatant disobedience to the Will of God. In order to bear your cross, in order to be a true Disciple of Christ, you must have Capacity for The Cross.
The key to bearing one's cross is the element of Crucifixion. This is what happens on the cross; you get Crucified. So if you're not willing to be Crucified, then you're not prepared to bear your cross. The concept of Crucifixion and the application thereof is not a topic that I hear frequently in the mainstream church. But it is a top priority for Discipleship Training. Therefore, we need to understand some of the elements of the Crucifixion process that are pertinent to us bearing our cross.
The first area of Crucifixion is the flesh. The scripture says very clearly that they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (Galatians 5). The flesh is the sinful nature that we as human beings have inherited as a result of the Fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Romans chapters 5-8). For this reason, we have an internal propensity to go against the Divine Will of God for our lives (Galatians 5). The scripture says that our responsibility as Christians is to crucify this flesh; which means we have to die to the sinful nature. In order to submit to this Crucifixion process, which is part of the Sanctification of the believer, you must have Capacity.
The next area of Crucifixion is being crucified to the world. Paul said that he was crucified to the world (Galatians 6). It's one thing to be crucified to the flesh, but it's another thing to be crucified to the world. You can still serve Christ and be lured and fascinated by the trappings of the world. This is not the Will of God. That's why Jesus made it clear that as the children of God, we are not of this world (John 15). The scripture also says that friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4). We must be crucified (dead) to the world so that our focus is not on earthly things but on the things of the Kingdom of Heaven (Colossians 3).
Lastly saints, if one is going to have Capacity for the Cross, one must be endued with Hope. The bible says that Jesus endured the Cross because of the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12). That's Hope. What are you hoping for in Christ? What are you reaching for in the Lord, in the temporal and the Eternal, that is worth dying for? If you haven't found something within your Kingdom Call that would allow you to proactively lay down your life, more than likely, you still need to develop more Capacity for The Cross.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
When Good is No Longer Good Enough
This is a very interesting Season that we are in right now, because we are in the midst of a Shift. There's a Shift that God is sponsoring in the Spirit Realm that is shifting and changing many things in our lives. For some of you, it may seem like things are changing without your control or approval. Things that used to work before simply are no longer working. Relationships that appeared functional and viable before seem to be outdated and have served their purpose. These incidents and different dynamics are not coincidental or happenstance; they are the result of the Shift that God is creating in the earth.
The reason for this Shift is that God is changing some things and shifting some things, in order to further prepare us for what He's about to release in the earth. When it is released, there won't be time to "get ready", you'll have to be ready. For this reason, some of us are finding out that Good is no longer Good Enough. God is calling us to a higher level. He's pruning and purging even as we speak (John 15). With such being the case, we have to identify and discern the Better that He is calling us to from the Good that we've established.
A good example of this is the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10). When the young man came running to Jesus, he asked the Lord what must he do to inherit eternal life. Jesus questioned why the young man referred to Him as Good. Then, when Jesus told him what was required in order to inherit eternal life, the rich young ruler said that he had observed them since he was a youth. This is impressive. There aren't too many of us that have kept the commandments from our youth. And Jesus did not correct him. But Jesus challenged him, and that's what He's doing with us today. For a lot of us, we've been faithful, we've been obedient, we've done what the Lord has called us to do. But now He wants to stretch our faith. Jesus told the young man to sell all that he had, take up his cross, and to follow Him. This is where the problem arose. His good was no longer Good Enough. And neither is ours. Jesus is calling all of us to sell out. Jesus is calling all of us to bear our cross. To sacrifice and suffer for the Cause of the Kingdom. The Lord is calling all of us to a closer walk with Him, no matter how close we are or have been.
Saints, let us not be like the rich young ruler. When he heard the call of Jesus, the scripture says that he walked away grieved, because he was not willing to part with his possessions (Mark 10). We too, if we're not careful, can find ourselves walking away from Jesus as well; not willing to part with and relinquish that for which He's calling us to abandon in order to fully follow Him. This is the Season saints where we must allow the Holy Spirit to circumcise our hearts and fix and adjust what the Lord is calling us to surrender to Him. We must establish a witness that submits to the Lord when He establishes that our Good is No Longer Good Enough.
The reason for this Shift is that God is changing some things and shifting some things, in order to further prepare us for what He's about to release in the earth. When it is released, there won't be time to "get ready", you'll have to be ready. For this reason, some of us are finding out that Good is no longer Good Enough. God is calling us to a higher level. He's pruning and purging even as we speak (John 15). With such being the case, we have to identify and discern the Better that He is calling us to from the Good that we've established.
A good example of this is the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10). When the young man came running to Jesus, he asked the Lord what must he do to inherit eternal life. Jesus questioned why the young man referred to Him as Good. Then, when Jesus told him what was required in order to inherit eternal life, the rich young ruler said that he had observed them since he was a youth. This is impressive. There aren't too many of us that have kept the commandments from our youth. And Jesus did not correct him. But Jesus challenged him, and that's what He's doing with us today. For a lot of us, we've been faithful, we've been obedient, we've done what the Lord has called us to do. But now He wants to stretch our faith. Jesus told the young man to sell all that he had, take up his cross, and to follow Him. This is where the problem arose. His good was no longer Good Enough. And neither is ours. Jesus is calling all of us to sell out. Jesus is calling all of us to bear our cross. To sacrifice and suffer for the Cause of the Kingdom. The Lord is calling all of us to a closer walk with Him, no matter how close we are or have been.
Saints, let us not be like the rich young ruler. When he heard the call of Jesus, the scripture says that he walked away grieved, because he was not willing to part with his possessions (Mark 10). We too, if we're not careful, can find ourselves walking away from Jesus as well; not willing to part with and relinquish that for which He's calling us to abandon in order to fully follow Him. This is the Season saints where we must allow the Holy Spirit to circumcise our hearts and fix and adjust what the Lord is calling us to surrender to Him. We must establish a witness that submits to the Lord when He establishes that our Good is No Longer Good Enough.
Monday, January 25, 2016
A Breakdown for a Breakthrough
Many people during this Season are waiting for a Breakthrough. Whether it's a financial breakthrough, a spiritual breakthrough, a relational breakthrough or even a ministerial breakthrough; people are waiting for God to do something that will turn things around in their lives. However, I am learning that before you can expect a Breakthrough from God, one must first expect a Breakdown for God. Either way, something has to break. This is the part of the Blessing of God that many of His children are not very receptive to. Before we can receive the Breakthrough, we must first experience the Breakdown.
Why must there be a Breakdown before the Breakthrough? Because for most of us, our current condition of heart is not conducive to receive and maintain the Level of Blessing that the Father has prepared for us as His children. Therefore, in order to make us ready, He has to break some things down in our lives and in our hearts in order that we may be in a place to receive the Blessing He has in store for us. This is not easy, and because of the difficulty of this Breakdown Process, a lot of Christians forego it, and consequently forfeit their Blessing. But this is not the Will of God. If we can endure the Breakdown Process, we will receive the Blessing that God has ordained for us.
Joseph had to go through this. Before he was promoted to the right hand of Pharoah and made the second in command over all of Egypt (Genesis 41), God had to break him down. The first part of the Breakdown was when his brothers sold him into Egyptian slavery (Genesis 37). Then the second part of the Breakdown was when Joseph got framed for attempted rape by Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39). The last part of the Breakdown was when he had to spend two full years in the dungeon for a crime he didn't commit (Genesis 41). But after the Breakdown Process had expired, Joseph received the Breakthrough. He was released from prison, and God promoted him to be the ruler over all of Egypt, and to serve as the savior of the land and practically the world (Genesis 41).
Saints, no matter how hard it is for you right now, no matter how many breakdowns appear to be happening in your life: physically, financially, occupationally, relationally, ministerially. Don't give up! Don't lose heart. Don't give in. Know that your Breakthrough is on the way. Know that your promotion is even nearer than you think. Don't be weary in well-doing (Galtians 6). Don't let the Devil deceive you by saying to yourself "what's the use". There is a Divine Use in all that you're going through. God has Plans for your life and a Purpose for you to fulfill (Jeremiah 29). So be encouraged, and remember that there is A Breakdown for a Breakthrough.
Why must there be a Breakdown before the Breakthrough? Because for most of us, our current condition of heart is not conducive to receive and maintain the Level of Blessing that the Father has prepared for us as His children. Therefore, in order to make us ready, He has to break some things down in our lives and in our hearts in order that we may be in a place to receive the Blessing He has in store for us. This is not easy, and because of the difficulty of this Breakdown Process, a lot of Christians forego it, and consequently forfeit their Blessing. But this is not the Will of God. If we can endure the Breakdown Process, we will receive the Blessing that God has ordained for us.
Joseph had to go through this. Before he was promoted to the right hand of Pharoah and made the second in command over all of Egypt (Genesis 41), God had to break him down. The first part of the Breakdown was when his brothers sold him into Egyptian slavery (Genesis 37). Then the second part of the Breakdown was when Joseph got framed for attempted rape by Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39). The last part of the Breakdown was when he had to spend two full years in the dungeon for a crime he didn't commit (Genesis 41). But after the Breakdown Process had expired, Joseph received the Breakthrough. He was released from prison, and God promoted him to be the ruler over all of Egypt, and to serve as the savior of the land and practically the world (Genesis 41).
Saints, no matter how hard it is for you right now, no matter how many breakdowns appear to be happening in your life: physically, financially, occupationally, relationally, ministerially. Don't give up! Don't lose heart. Don't give in. Know that your Breakthrough is on the way. Know that your promotion is even nearer than you think. Don't be weary in well-doing (Galtians 6). Don't let the Devil deceive you by saying to yourself "what's the use". There is a Divine Use in all that you're going through. God has Plans for your life and a Purpose for you to fulfill (Jeremiah 29). So be encouraged, and remember that there is A Breakdown for a Breakthrough.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
A Strategy for Holiness
The Lord is calling the church to Holiness. He says in His word in First Peter chapter one, "be ye holy, for I Am Holy". Holiness is not an option, it's a Divine Command. Some of us were not raised in ecclesiastical environments where the Holiness of God was stressed. Then there are others of us who may have been raised in a "holiness" church, but it was simply another word for "self-righteousness". Neither of these represent the Divine Will of God. There is a Standard of Holiness that God is calling His people to as we approach this Kingdom Movement. Therefore we must develop a strategic approach to insuring that the Holiness of God is manifested and established in our lives.
The first thing that the scripture says in the first chapter of First Peter is to "gird up the loins of your mind". This can be in reference to preparation for war, tucking certain things in, as it relates to your attire, that might make you trip and fall. We need to start "girding up". We must keep in mind saints, we are at War. It's been a "long time" since America has had an active war on our land. But for those countries that are at war, you understand that at anytime you could be under attack and that the threat of death is imminent. We don't live like this in America, but if you're going to be a soldier in the army of the Lord and embrace the Holiness of our God, you have to take this type of mental approach to your walk with Christ.
Then the scripture says to be Sober. There are too many Christians, including preachers, who are having "too much fun". I know this sounds weird, but what I mean is, all we're looking for is to have a good time. People go to church so they can "feel good". People want to hear a word that's going to "inspire" them, not cut them (Hebrews 4). People want the choir to entertain them, "but don't challenge me to worship" (Hebrews 13). Even the way we structure our lives is for our convenience, not the bearing of our cross (Matthew 16). We have to Sober up. If you've ever watched a sports team prepare for a big game like a championship, you'll notice that everyone on the team is very "serious". They have their "game face" on. Why? Because they are serious and focused regarding the task at hand. They're not playing, they're Sober.
Lastly, the scripture says, "as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance". Most of us, maybe not all, have had our struggles in wrestling with the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5). What I'm learning is that lust has to be "fashioned". You have to create an environment that is conducive to the activity and indulgence of the lusts of the flesh. This is why Romans 13 says, "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ , and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof". Let us ask God for wisdom that we will learn to make certain decisions that will not foster and facilitate the indulgence of the flesh and the lusts thereof. If we are serious and sincere, God is Faithful to give us the Grace to effectively and successfully implement and execute A Strategy for Holiness.
The first thing that the scripture says in the first chapter of First Peter is to "gird up the loins of your mind". This can be in reference to preparation for war, tucking certain things in, as it relates to your attire, that might make you trip and fall. We need to start "girding up". We must keep in mind saints, we are at War. It's been a "long time" since America has had an active war on our land. But for those countries that are at war, you understand that at anytime you could be under attack and that the threat of death is imminent. We don't live like this in America, but if you're going to be a soldier in the army of the Lord and embrace the Holiness of our God, you have to take this type of mental approach to your walk with Christ.
Then the scripture says to be Sober. There are too many Christians, including preachers, who are having "too much fun". I know this sounds weird, but what I mean is, all we're looking for is to have a good time. People go to church so they can "feel good". People want to hear a word that's going to "inspire" them, not cut them (Hebrews 4). People want the choir to entertain them, "but don't challenge me to worship" (Hebrews 13). Even the way we structure our lives is for our convenience, not the bearing of our cross (Matthew 16). We have to Sober up. If you've ever watched a sports team prepare for a big game like a championship, you'll notice that everyone on the team is very "serious". They have their "game face" on. Why? Because they are serious and focused regarding the task at hand. They're not playing, they're Sober.
Lastly, the scripture says, "as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance". Most of us, maybe not all, have had our struggles in wrestling with the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5). What I'm learning is that lust has to be "fashioned". You have to create an environment that is conducive to the activity and indulgence of the lusts of the flesh. This is why Romans 13 says, "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ , and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof". Let us ask God for wisdom that we will learn to make certain decisions that will not foster and facilitate the indulgence of the flesh and the lusts thereof. If we are serious and sincere, God is Faithful to give us the Grace to effectively and successfully implement and execute A Strategy for Holiness.
Friday, January 22, 2016
Where is the Love?
The water crisis in Flint, Michigan really makes one wonder about the level of compassion and concern that the government has for its people. For an entire city to be subjected to contaminated water and nobody be responsible for doing anything about it is a travesty. However, I believe its simply another indication of the ineptitude and incompetence of our governmental system, regardless of the level (local, state or national). But the question I want to raise today is, Where is the Love? Where is the love and concern for just the general welfare of people? Where is the Love?
Everybody is looking for Love, whether they realize it or not. The pain, the anger, the frustration, the violence, the murders: all of these are cries for Love. People aren't giving up on life and throwing in the towel simply because they don't want to live, they're looking for Love. But what most people don't realize is that in their quest for Love, they're actually looking for God. The bible says very clearly that God is Love (1John 4). What people really need and long for, whether they are fully conscious of it or not, is God, because He is Love.
God has designed every human being to have a personal relationship with Him. This is a fact because every human individual is made in the image of God (Genesis 1). The challenge is that this Divine Image can only be activated and actualized in concert and connection to a relationship with God. In other words, you can't fulfill who you were made to be if you're not intimately connected to the One who made you. This is where the majority of humanity is missing it, particularly in Western society. We live in a world that truly believes that we don't need God to survive. Oh sure, the concept of God, the theoretical existence of God, is not a bad idea; but it's not a necessity to my functioning as a human being. Wrong. Then people may "intellectually" believe in God, but aren't convinced that they need a relationship with God, let alone need to be sold out and surrendered to God, in order to be happy. Wrong again. This is why there is such a love deficit, because people are trying to be functional and successful in relationships without being in relationship with He who is Love and established the blueprint for loving relationships in the first place.
I can assure you saints, the days of people thinking that they can survive without God are about to change. Be not deceived. I know everything seems relatively rosy right now, but in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "we've got some difficult days ahead". When those difficult days come upon us, it will be incumbent upon the church to demonstrate and be a living witness of the Love of God. We won't have time to judge, we won't have time to condemn, all we must do is serve and love. Prayerfully at that time, the world won't look at the church and ask, Where is the Love?
Everybody is looking for Love, whether they realize it or not. The pain, the anger, the frustration, the violence, the murders: all of these are cries for Love. People aren't giving up on life and throwing in the towel simply because they don't want to live, they're looking for Love. But what most people don't realize is that in their quest for Love, they're actually looking for God. The bible says very clearly that God is Love (1John 4). What people really need and long for, whether they are fully conscious of it or not, is God, because He is Love.
God has designed every human being to have a personal relationship with Him. This is a fact because every human individual is made in the image of God (Genesis 1). The challenge is that this Divine Image can only be activated and actualized in concert and connection to a relationship with God. In other words, you can't fulfill who you were made to be if you're not intimately connected to the One who made you. This is where the majority of humanity is missing it, particularly in Western society. We live in a world that truly believes that we don't need God to survive. Oh sure, the concept of God, the theoretical existence of God, is not a bad idea; but it's not a necessity to my functioning as a human being. Wrong. Then people may "intellectually" believe in God, but aren't convinced that they need a relationship with God, let alone need to be sold out and surrendered to God, in order to be happy. Wrong again. This is why there is such a love deficit, because people are trying to be functional and successful in relationships without being in relationship with He who is Love and established the blueprint for loving relationships in the first place.
I can assure you saints, the days of people thinking that they can survive without God are about to change. Be not deceived. I know everything seems relatively rosy right now, but in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "we've got some difficult days ahead". When those difficult days come upon us, it will be incumbent upon the church to demonstrate and be a living witness of the Love of God. We won't have time to judge, we won't have time to condemn, all we must do is serve and love. Prayerfully at that time, the world won't look at the church and ask, Where is the Love?
Thursday, January 21, 2016
A Voiceless America
People are intrigued and in awe at the seeming success of the political phenomenon called Donald Trump. With some of his outlandish remarks and his brash style and tactics, a lot of people can't believe that he's still leading the polls as the Republican candidate for the Presidency of the United States. Keep in mind that not all of America is Republican, and that there are many Americans that would never vote for Mr. Trump. However, regardless of one's personal stance or opinion about him, he seems to have struck a cord with America that has allowed them to be supportive of him in this presidential race.
I am of the opinion that a lot of the "success" that Mr. Trump has had during this primary campaign is due not so much to his personal style or flair, but because of the sign of the times. One of the things that Mr. Trump has said I totally agree with: people are mad. The American people are mad, and I believe they feel betrayed. Where is the "Change" that President Obama talked about 8 years ago? The President and the Vice-President have acknowledged that while Corporate America is thriving, the wages of the worker are decreasing or stagnant at best. Who's working to change that problem? Our governmental system is inept and incompetent, and the American people are furious, disheartened and discouraged. The "in your face" style politics of Donald Trump is resonating with that segment of the population that represents what I'd like to describe as A Voiceless America.
The real disappointment for me is the expectation of the American people. This country seems to believe that the Government is going to fix their problems. I hate to say it, but it doesn't matter who's in office, Republican or Democrat; until the Rules of the Game change, the Results will stay the same. But I do have some Good News! There is another Governmental System that people can subscribe to that will meet every one of their needs (Philippians 4). I didn't say political party, I said Governmental System. People tend to forget that Jesus is a King. He's not just the Savior, He is the King of the Universe; and His Governmental System is called the Kingdom of God. That's why His Message was the Good News. If you study the Gospels, you'll notice that Jesus didn't spend a lot of time (if any) talking about His Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection. But yet His Message was the Good News. Why? Because the Jews understood that as the Christ, Jesus the Messiah represented a brand new Order of Government that would establish a whole New Way of Life for the children of Israel (John 6). This is what America is looking for today; someone in governmental authority that can help change their way of life.
Jesus is still Alive today, and His Kingdom as readily available as it was 2,000 years ago. The problem is that the church won't represent that Jesus. We want to represent a "religionized" Jesus, not a Resurrected Christ who has ALL POWER in Heaven and earth in His Hands. If we were representing "that" Jesus, we would reflect and manifest the same Power that He demonstrated while He was here on earth. But as I've said on numerous occasions, A Kingdom Movement is about to be released in the earth. And when it is, people won't be looking to an Obama, people won't be looking to a Donald Trump, people won't looking for the next Martin Luther King, Jr. or John F. Kennedy, or whoever. They'll be looking to Jesus! And people will finally realize that Jesus the Christ, the Resurrected King and Emperor, is the answer for A Voiceless America.
I am of the opinion that a lot of the "success" that Mr. Trump has had during this primary campaign is due not so much to his personal style or flair, but because of the sign of the times. One of the things that Mr. Trump has said I totally agree with: people are mad. The American people are mad, and I believe they feel betrayed. Where is the "Change" that President Obama talked about 8 years ago? The President and the Vice-President have acknowledged that while Corporate America is thriving, the wages of the worker are decreasing or stagnant at best. Who's working to change that problem? Our governmental system is inept and incompetent, and the American people are furious, disheartened and discouraged. The "in your face" style politics of Donald Trump is resonating with that segment of the population that represents what I'd like to describe as A Voiceless America.
The real disappointment for me is the expectation of the American people. This country seems to believe that the Government is going to fix their problems. I hate to say it, but it doesn't matter who's in office, Republican or Democrat; until the Rules of the Game change, the Results will stay the same. But I do have some Good News! There is another Governmental System that people can subscribe to that will meet every one of their needs (Philippians 4). I didn't say political party, I said Governmental System. People tend to forget that Jesus is a King. He's not just the Savior, He is the King of the Universe; and His Governmental System is called the Kingdom of God. That's why His Message was the Good News. If you study the Gospels, you'll notice that Jesus didn't spend a lot of time (if any) talking about His Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection. But yet His Message was the Good News. Why? Because the Jews understood that as the Christ, Jesus the Messiah represented a brand new Order of Government that would establish a whole New Way of Life for the children of Israel (John 6). This is what America is looking for today; someone in governmental authority that can help change their way of life.
Jesus is still Alive today, and His Kingdom as readily available as it was 2,000 years ago. The problem is that the church won't represent that Jesus. We want to represent a "religionized" Jesus, not a Resurrected Christ who has ALL POWER in Heaven and earth in His Hands. If we were representing "that" Jesus, we would reflect and manifest the same Power that He demonstrated while He was here on earth. But as I've said on numerous occasions, A Kingdom Movement is about to be released in the earth. And when it is, people won't be looking to an Obama, people won't be looking to a Donald Trump, people won't looking for the next Martin Luther King, Jr. or John F. Kennedy, or whoever. They'll be looking to Jesus! And people will finally realize that Jesus the Christ, the Resurrected King and Emperor, is the answer for A Voiceless America.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Developing Satanic Resistance
As we continue to press through the beginning of 2016, we need to remain mindful that the Lord is Moving. No matter what is going on in your life personally, please, do not be deceived; God is still on the Throne and His Divine Will is being executed even as we speak. That being said, we need to remember that Kingdom Advancement in the earth is about Warfare. We may be sleeping, but the Devil is not. He understands the Power of God much more than we do. So even he is preparing for the Move of God that is going to hit the earth. Therefore, we must remain prepared and on watch for the Manifestation of our Master. The King Is Coming.
For this reason, it is imperative that we remain alert and make sure that we are Developing Satanic Resistance. Once again, this is War. Christianity and the advancement of the Kingdom of God isn't about feeling good and going to church. It's about taking territory for the Kingdom of God and winning souls for Christ. This irritates the Devil and his demons, and makes us targets for attack. Yet we need not fear, because Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world (1John 4). This is not the time to be lackadaisical. This is not the time to get slothful. This is the time to get on edge! This is the time to let the Holy Ghost get you on fire! Because when the Move of God hits, you won't have time to get warmed up, you'll have to already be on Fire.
The scripture says in first Peter chapter five, "Be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour". Are you sober? This means focused and mentally alert. Are you being prudent and discerning in regards to the various decisions that you're making in your life? The opposite of sober is intoxicated, which means the experience of some type of slight if not severe mental impairment. Don't let some situation or circumstance get you "out of your mind". It doesn't always have to be alcohol or something pleasure related. It can be a relationship and your feelings for someone. It can be a job opportunity that you're really "excited" about. It can be an upcoming event that you're looking forward to. Or even something or somebody negative that you've just gotten carried away with and preoccupied. Stay Sober. Stay focused and locked in to the things God is calling you to do.
Vigilant. One of the greatest challenges that the church is experiencing right now is the spirit of being "laid-back". It's not that we don't care, it's not that we're indifferent, but there's no intensity to what we do. Everybody seems to want to just "go with the flow". Everybody wants to be as "stress-free" as possible. I'm definitely not a proponent of unnecessary stress, but some stress is necessary. How much stress do you think Jesus had to endure just to get psychologically prepared to "bear" the Cross? The bible says, in Him just praying about it He was sweating blood (Hebrews 12). That's being Vigilant. We've got to adopt an attitude now that says we're going to win at all cost. Whatever we have to do, that's what we're going to do, in order that the Divine Will of God may be executed and fulfilled in our lives. When the Devil strikes, we already have the strategy from the Holy Ghost to counter-attack. When traps are set, we'll be assertive and aggressive to insure that the Victory will be manifested in our lives. It's Time saints. It's time to get ready to go to Battle for the Kingdom of God. But if we're going to Win, we must make sure that we're Developing Satanic Resistance.
For this reason, it is imperative that we remain alert and make sure that we are Developing Satanic Resistance. Once again, this is War. Christianity and the advancement of the Kingdom of God isn't about feeling good and going to church. It's about taking territory for the Kingdom of God and winning souls for Christ. This irritates the Devil and his demons, and makes us targets for attack. Yet we need not fear, because Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world (1John 4). This is not the time to be lackadaisical. This is not the time to get slothful. This is the time to get on edge! This is the time to let the Holy Ghost get you on fire! Because when the Move of God hits, you won't have time to get warmed up, you'll have to already be on Fire.
The scripture says in first Peter chapter five, "Be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour". Are you sober? This means focused and mentally alert. Are you being prudent and discerning in regards to the various decisions that you're making in your life? The opposite of sober is intoxicated, which means the experience of some type of slight if not severe mental impairment. Don't let some situation or circumstance get you "out of your mind". It doesn't always have to be alcohol or something pleasure related. It can be a relationship and your feelings for someone. It can be a job opportunity that you're really "excited" about. It can be an upcoming event that you're looking forward to. Or even something or somebody negative that you've just gotten carried away with and preoccupied. Stay Sober. Stay focused and locked in to the things God is calling you to do.
Vigilant. One of the greatest challenges that the church is experiencing right now is the spirit of being "laid-back". It's not that we don't care, it's not that we're indifferent, but there's no intensity to what we do. Everybody seems to want to just "go with the flow". Everybody wants to be as "stress-free" as possible. I'm definitely not a proponent of unnecessary stress, but some stress is necessary. How much stress do you think Jesus had to endure just to get psychologically prepared to "bear" the Cross? The bible says, in Him just praying about it He was sweating blood (Hebrews 12). That's being Vigilant. We've got to adopt an attitude now that says we're going to win at all cost. Whatever we have to do, that's what we're going to do, in order that the Divine Will of God may be executed and fulfilled in our lives. When the Devil strikes, we already have the strategy from the Holy Ghost to counter-attack. When traps are set, we'll be assertive and aggressive to insure that the Victory will be manifested in our lives. It's Time saints. It's time to get ready to go to Battle for the Kingdom of God. But if we're going to Win, we must make sure that we're Developing Satanic Resistance.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
The Contentment of Circumcision
One of the spiritual disciplines that needs to be restored to the consciousness and commitment of the church is Spiritual Circumcision. Circumcision was the sign of the Covenant that God established between Himself and Abraham, and the Covenant Community identified as the Hebrews or the Jews (Genesis 17). If a person (a male) was not circumcised, then he was ex-communicated from the Covenant Community of Jehovah. We are no longer under this Covenant Agreement. We are now under the New Covenant established by faith in the Blood of Jesus Christ for the remission and forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1). However, Romans chapter 2 makes it clear that a Jew (a person identified as being part of the Covenant Community of Jehovah) is not one who is circumcised in the flesh, but one who is circumcised in the heart and in the spirit. This lets us know that Circumcision is still a discipline that is applicable to the New Testament church.
When we talk about embracing the discipline of Circumcision, we must understand that the importance of this discipline lies in the fact that there are things in our hearts, things in our minds, things in our spirits, and things in our lives that need to be cut off. In her Devotional "It's A New Day", the Prophet Kathy Wilson talks about "cutting the cord". There are things in our lives that are not consistent nor congruent with the Divine Direction that God is taking our lives. Therefore, these things have to be cut off and put away. Otherwise, they will hinder us in regards to the fulfillment of God's Divine Destiny for our lives.
The challenge with Circumcision is that, once again, a lot of the things that need to be cut off and circumcised are not overtly sinful. Sinful acts and dead works are things which need to be repented from (Hebrews 6). Even works of the flesh don't need to be circumcised but crucified (Galatians 5). Even though the discipline of Circumcision is applicable to the aforementioned areas, that's not always or necessarily its specific focus. A lot of times its certain people, certain associations, certain feelings, certain affections, certain habits; that God is calling us to circumcise and cut off. It's not easy, because it's Painful. Yes, Circumcision hurts. It is indeed a Painful Process. When the children of Israel were circumcised after crossing over into the Promised Land, the scripture says that they had to stay in the camp till they were healed (Joshua 5). So the discipline of Circumcision is not an easy task.
But I am convinced that there is a Supernatural Contentment that comes along with the Discipline and Exercise of Circumcision. When you refuse to commit to Spiritual Circumcision, you inevitably compromise. You don't mean to, you love the Lord. But a lot of times our faith is not in a place to execute the obedience and submission required to endure the pain and sometimes agony, let alone disappointment and hurt, of Spiritual Circumcision. But when you trust God, when you believe that He has more in store for you than what you're holding onto, there's a Supernatural Contentment that is released on your behalf. I can't say that I understand it, but I sure do believe it. If you look at the witness of Abraham and his sons, it's obvious. You never lose trusting in God. It may hurt for a little while, and you may have to heal from your disappointment and in some cases maybe even disillusionment. But in the end, Our God is Faithful, and He will show you the value of embracing and receiving The Contentment of Circumcision.
When we talk about embracing the discipline of Circumcision, we must understand that the importance of this discipline lies in the fact that there are things in our hearts, things in our minds, things in our spirits, and things in our lives that need to be cut off. In her Devotional "It's A New Day", the Prophet Kathy Wilson talks about "cutting the cord". There are things in our lives that are not consistent nor congruent with the Divine Direction that God is taking our lives. Therefore, these things have to be cut off and put away. Otherwise, they will hinder us in regards to the fulfillment of God's Divine Destiny for our lives.
The challenge with Circumcision is that, once again, a lot of the things that need to be cut off and circumcised are not overtly sinful. Sinful acts and dead works are things which need to be repented from (Hebrews 6). Even works of the flesh don't need to be circumcised but crucified (Galatians 5). Even though the discipline of Circumcision is applicable to the aforementioned areas, that's not always or necessarily its specific focus. A lot of times its certain people, certain associations, certain feelings, certain affections, certain habits; that God is calling us to circumcise and cut off. It's not easy, because it's Painful. Yes, Circumcision hurts. It is indeed a Painful Process. When the children of Israel were circumcised after crossing over into the Promised Land, the scripture says that they had to stay in the camp till they were healed (Joshua 5). So the discipline of Circumcision is not an easy task.
But I am convinced that there is a Supernatural Contentment that comes along with the Discipline and Exercise of Circumcision. When you refuse to commit to Spiritual Circumcision, you inevitably compromise. You don't mean to, you love the Lord. But a lot of times our faith is not in a place to execute the obedience and submission required to endure the pain and sometimes agony, let alone disappointment and hurt, of Spiritual Circumcision. But when you trust God, when you believe that He has more in store for you than what you're holding onto, there's a Supernatural Contentment that is released on your behalf. I can't say that I understand it, but I sure do believe it. If you look at the witness of Abraham and his sons, it's obvious. You never lose trusting in God. It may hurt for a little while, and you may have to heal from your disappointment and in some cases maybe even disillusionment. But in the end, Our God is Faithful, and He will show you the value of embracing and receiving The Contentment of Circumcision.
Monday, January 18, 2016
The Danger of Self
As I continue to walk with the Lord, I am learning that one of the biggest dangers to the fulfillment of God's Divine Will for our lives is the Danger of Self. So many people are convinced that the biggest threat to our Christian walk is sin. I would beg to differ. Sin is simply the "by-product" of what the true danger really is. If we don't get a handle on our Self, inevitably we'll find ourselves immersed in sinful activity: whether it's sin of omission or sin of commission, sin of thought or sin of deed. We must be mindful and leery of the Danger of Self.
When you look at The Fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, the issue was not sin. Remember, Adam was created in a state of Innocence. He did not have a sinful nature. So he was not "internally compelled" to disobey God. Yes, his wife was "Satanically seduced" to negatively influence him in regards to the Divine Will of God that had been established in the Garden (Genesis 2). But we can never blame our disobedience on another person. We, and we alone, are responsible and accountable for our loyalty and fidelity to God and His Divine Will for our lives. So what happened then in the Garden of Eden that allowed Adam to disobey His Master and Creator? He got consumed and preoccupied with Self.
Lucifer, now Satan, resided in the very Glory of God (Ezekiel 28). Unlike Adam, he wasn't on earth when he rebelled against God, he was in heaven! So how do you sin and lead a revolt against the Almighty when you're in the very Presence of His Glory? If you study Ezekiel 28, once again, Lucifer became enamored and infatuated with himSelf.
As we press into the Kingdom of God, there is a Glory that, by the Grace of God, He is going to bestow upon His elect and upon His chosen. It's a Glory unlike we've never experienced before. This Glory will not only be a spiritual one, it will also manifest itself in the natural realm. When this happens, the only way we will remain impervious to Satanic attack is to keep our eyes and our focus strictly and solely on God. This is the only way saints. This is why Jesus strongly admonishes us in Matthew 16 to deny ourselves and carry our cross. Once again, if you study Matthew 16, you'll notice that shortly after Peter had received Divine Revelation of who Christ was, that moments later he was being used as a Satanic instrument to keep Jesus from fulfilling His Destiny. This is what it's all about saints. Please hear me today. It's not about sin! Jesus has already died for our sins. Whatever issues you're having with sin our tied up to your lack of denial of self and crucifixion of the flesh. And even when you're sanctified and have mortified the deeds of the body (Colossians 3); if that Self has not been properly dealt with, you still give Satan just enough to work with to prevent you from fulfilling all that the Father has called you to be and do.
Saints, let's not fall to this Satanic trap. Let's not be ignorant and indifferent to those dynamics within us that still lend themselves to us going against God's Divine Will and Path for our lives. Let us be sober and vigilant, and make sure that we're developing the proper strategies to fight against The Danger of Self.
When you look at The Fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, the issue was not sin. Remember, Adam was created in a state of Innocence. He did not have a sinful nature. So he was not "internally compelled" to disobey God. Yes, his wife was "Satanically seduced" to negatively influence him in regards to the Divine Will of God that had been established in the Garden (Genesis 2). But we can never blame our disobedience on another person. We, and we alone, are responsible and accountable for our loyalty and fidelity to God and His Divine Will for our lives. So what happened then in the Garden of Eden that allowed Adam to disobey His Master and Creator? He got consumed and preoccupied with Self.
Lucifer, now Satan, resided in the very Glory of God (Ezekiel 28). Unlike Adam, he wasn't on earth when he rebelled against God, he was in heaven! So how do you sin and lead a revolt against the Almighty when you're in the very Presence of His Glory? If you study Ezekiel 28, once again, Lucifer became enamored and infatuated with himSelf.
As we press into the Kingdom of God, there is a Glory that, by the Grace of God, He is going to bestow upon His elect and upon His chosen. It's a Glory unlike we've never experienced before. This Glory will not only be a spiritual one, it will also manifest itself in the natural realm. When this happens, the only way we will remain impervious to Satanic attack is to keep our eyes and our focus strictly and solely on God. This is the only way saints. This is why Jesus strongly admonishes us in Matthew 16 to deny ourselves and carry our cross. Once again, if you study Matthew 16, you'll notice that shortly after Peter had received Divine Revelation of who Christ was, that moments later he was being used as a Satanic instrument to keep Jesus from fulfilling His Destiny. This is what it's all about saints. Please hear me today. It's not about sin! Jesus has already died for our sins. Whatever issues you're having with sin our tied up to your lack of denial of self and crucifixion of the flesh. And even when you're sanctified and have mortified the deeds of the body (Colossians 3); if that Self has not been properly dealt with, you still give Satan just enough to work with to prevent you from fulfilling all that the Father has called you to be and do.
Saints, let's not fall to this Satanic trap. Let's not be ignorant and indifferent to those dynamics within us that still lend themselves to us going against God's Divine Will and Path for our lives. Let us be sober and vigilant, and make sure that we're developing the proper strategies to fight against The Danger of Self.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
The Threat of Internal Division
One of the biggest threats to the maintenance and sustainability of any organization or social unit is Internal Division. Whenever people start fighting amongst themselves, whether it's a government, a corporation, an organization, a church or even a family, the viability of that organization begins to diminish. Jesus said that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (Mark 3). This is where America lies right now as a nation. Democrats against Republicans, Blacks against Whites, Americans against Muslims; nothing but in-fighting. This is not the Will of God. The God we serve is a God of Unity (Ephesians 4). Not at any cost, mind you (Matthew 10). But we have to make sure, in the various areas of activity and influence that God has providentially placed us, that we're not fostering and facilitating the Threat of Internal Division.
One of the greatest areas of Internal Division is within ourselves. I heard a preacher say once that our biggest enemy is the "Inner-Me". There is a lot of truth to this statement. There is a reason why the Scriptures say that, "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17). We must be mindful of the "civil war" that's taking place within every born-again believer in Christ (Romans 7). That's why the Scripture says that "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Galatians 5). We must be mindful and cognizant of the threat of internal division that exists within each of our souls, in order that the Kingdom of God may stand within our spirits.
All of us are challenged within our respective environments to deal with people that are contrary to us. There's no way around it, it's a part of life. However, how we choose to deal with that contrariness is up to us. The Bible says to "be not overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good" (Romans 12). We live in a society now, even in the church, that encourages to "fight fire with fire". "If you come at me, I'm coming back at you". Once again, this is not the Will of God. This is why Jesus taught to "turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5). Not in the name of some weak passivity, but in the name of the reality that social destruction is the result when we proactively fight against each other. As believers in Christ we have to take a stand and quit trying to "defend" ourselves in the name of "being right". Only God is Right. Everyone else are beneficiaries of His Mercy. So why don't we take the attitude of mercy towards others that God has so graciously bestowed upon us?
Saints, we are about to enter a Season where our Witness for Christ will not be tolerated. When people begin to lash out at us and attack us because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we cannot afford to "lash back". We must truly learn to let the Lord fight our battles (2Chronicles 20). If we do, He is Faithful to heal the land and protect our respective communities from the Threat of Internal Division.
One of the greatest areas of Internal Division is within ourselves. I heard a preacher say once that our biggest enemy is the "Inner-Me". There is a lot of truth to this statement. There is a reason why the Scriptures say that, "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17). We must be mindful of the "civil war" that's taking place within every born-again believer in Christ (Romans 7). That's why the Scripture says that "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Galatians 5). We must be mindful and cognizant of the threat of internal division that exists within each of our souls, in order that the Kingdom of God may stand within our spirits.
All of us are challenged within our respective environments to deal with people that are contrary to us. There's no way around it, it's a part of life. However, how we choose to deal with that contrariness is up to us. The Bible says to "be not overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good" (Romans 12). We live in a society now, even in the church, that encourages to "fight fire with fire". "If you come at me, I'm coming back at you". Once again, this is not the Will of God. This is why Jesus taught to "turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5). Not in the name of some weak passivity, but in the name of the reality that social destruction is the result when we proactively fight against each other. As believers in Christ we have to take a stand and quit trying to "defend" ourselves in the name of "being right". Only God is Right. Everyone else are beneficiaries of His Mercy. So why don't we take the attitude of mercy towards others that God has so graciously bestowed upon us?
Saints, we are about to enter a Season where our Witness for Christ will not be tolerated. When people begin to lash out at us and attack us because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we cannot afford to "lash back". We must truly learn to let the Lord fight our battles (2Chronicles 20). If we do, He is Faithful to heal the land and protect our respective communities from the Threat of Internal Division.
Friday, January 15, 2016
Barred from the Promised Land
I have a concern that I'd like to address regarding the people of God. We are getting ready to move into a Season where God is going to release His Miracle Blessings upon the earth. Many of us have been waiting for our breakthrough, waiting for the Manifest Blessings that we know that the Lord has borne witness with our spirit. However, my concern is that even though there are some who are waiting for the Blessing, you may not receive the Blessing for which you have been waiting for. The reason it may "go down" this way is because of what I'd like to describe as being Barred from the Promised Land.
It needs to be established that the Season that we're about to enter has been ordained not simply for the children of God but for the elect. Every born-again believer in Christ is a child of God, a Christian. But not every child is a part of the elect or chosen of God. That is why Jesus said, "many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22). Keep in mind, God is good. There are blessings, I believe, that He's going to dispense to His Own simply because they belong to Him. But there are supernatural manifestations that are about to take place, straight form the Throne Room of Heaven that, quite frankly, only the elect and chosen of God are prepared to receive.
So what's the difference between simply being a child of God and being the chosen of God? Faith and Obedience. When you read the record of the children of Israel, God made it clear that the reason that generation did not make it into the Promised Land was because of unbelief (Hebrews 3). Even Moses, the great leader that God used to bring the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage; even he didn't make it into the Promised Land. Why? Because of unbelief (Numbers 20). We have too many professing Christians that embrace Christ as Savior but won't do what He tells them to do. You can't talk about you have faith in God and then walk in disobedience (James 2). There are some specific things that God has told many of us to do. And we've chosen to leave them undone. Yes we still go to church, we still work in ministry, we still say our prayers and read our bibles, but we're not doing what God has told us to do. This my brothers and sisters, is unbelief. And when God establishes His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven, disobedience that grows out of unbelief will not be tolerated. Yes you'll still be saved, but you won't be able to participate in the Movement of the Kingdom. Make sure saints that your heart is right and that you don't find yourself Barred from the Promised Land.
It needs to be established that the Season that we're about to enter has been ordained not simply for the children of God but for the elect. Every born-again believer in Christ is a child of God, a Christian. But not every child is a part of the elect or chosen of God. That is why Jesus said, "many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22). Keep in mind, God is good. There are blessings, I believe, that He's going to dispense to His Own simply because they belong to Him. But there are supernatural manifestations that are about to take place, straight form the Throne Room of Heaven that, quite frankly, only the elect and chosen of God are prepared to receive.
So what's the difference between simply being a child of God and being the chosen of God? Faith and Obedience. When you read the record of the children of Israel, God made it clear that the reason that generation did not make it into the Promised Land was because of unbelief (Hebrews 3). Even Moses, the great leader that God used to bring the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage; even he didn't make it into the Promised Land. Why? Because of unbelief (Numbers 20). We have too many professing Christians that embrace Christ as Savior but won't do what He tells them to do. You can't talk about you have faith in God and then walk in disobedience (James 2). There are some specific things that God has told many of us to do. And we've chosen to leave them undone. Yes we still go to church, we still work in ministry, we still say our prayers and read our bibles, but we're not doing what God has told us to do. This my brothers and sisters, is unbelief. And when God establishes His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven, disobedience that grows out of unbelief will not be tolerated. Yes you'll still be saved, but you won't be able to participate in the Movement of the Kingdom. Make sure saints that your heart is right and that you don't find yourself Barred from the Promised Land.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
The Zone of Obedience
As I've stated earlier, the prophetic word that I received for 2016 is that this is going to be a "Warring Year". Saints, it is imperative, if you plan to live in Victory and not defeat, that you prepare your hearts and minds to fight for the things that God has ordained for your life in this upcoming year. I can assure you that it's not going to be handed to you on a silver platter, you're going to have to fight. That being said, it's also important to know who your primary enemy is, the Devil. The Bible says that Satan walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1Peter 5). He's on the prowl and he's looking to destroy you (John 10). But don't be scurred (scared) and don't be distressed. The Word says that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world! (1John 4). But in order to overcome the Evil One and win the War, we have to learn how to operate in the Zone of Obedience.
The Bible says that to obey is better than sacrifice (1Samuel 15). Obedience is the key. You can do all types of things in the name of serving the Lord, but if you want the Blessing that He has reserved and ordained for you, you must learn how to be Obedient to the Voice and the Will of God for your life. There is a Zone of Obedience that the Father want us to get into that is orchestrated and navigated by the Holy Ghost. Therefore, you have to know how to get into that Zone.
The scripture that makes reference to Satan being a roaring lion, also shows the posture and approach that we must take in order to position ourselves to defeat him. The scripture says for us to be Sober and Vigilant (1Peter 5). Being Sober means to be ready-minded and alert. There are too many of us as Christians that are too passive in our thinking in regards to our relationship with God. We just kind of "go with the flow". We don't give enough "thought" to the things we need to do in regards to the execution of God's Divine Will for our lives. When you are "mentally lazy" in regards to the things of God for your life, this gives the Devil the room he needs to come in and trip you up. Then the scripture says be Vigilant. To be Vigilant means to be assertive and intense. It means not only are you mentally alert, but you're proactive and assertive in regards to the things that need to be done to win the war against the Devil. You're not waiting to be on the defensive, you're looking to be on the offensive. You're not waiting to get attacked, you're looking to see how you can penetrate the kingdom of darkness and take even more of the Enemy's territory. That's being vigilant. Making sure he can't get to you, and that you're able to thwart his plans before they're even implemented.
Saints, it's that time. Now is not the time to play with God. Now is not the time to put your spiritual devotion and commitment to Christ on the back-burner. Now is the time to sober up. Now is the time to get vigilant and on fire for Christ. Now is the time to ask, Lord, what would you have me to do? (Acts 9) Now is the time to allow the Spirit to lead you into the Zone of Obedience.
The Bible says that to obey is better than sacrifice (1Samuel 15). Obedience is the key. You can do all types of things in the name of serving the Lord, but if you want the Blessing that He has reserved and ordained for you, you must learn how to be Obedient to the Voice and the Will of God for your life. There is a Zone of Obedience that the Father want us to get into that is orchestrated and navigated by the Holy Ghost. Therefore, you have to know how to get into that Zone.
The scripture that makes reference to Satan being a roaring lion, also shows the posture and approach that we must take in order to position ourselves to defeat him. The scripture says for us to be Sober and Vigilant (1Peter 5). Being Sober means to be ready-minded and alert. There are too many of us as Christians that are too passive in our thinking in regards to our relationship with God. We just kind of "go with the flow". We don't give enough "thought" to the things we need to do in regards to the execution of God's Divine Will for our lives. When you are "mentally lazy" in regards to the things of God for your life, this gives the Devil the room he needs to come in and trip you up. Then the scripture says be Vigilant. To be Vigilant means to be assertive and intense. It means not only are you mentally alert, but you're proactive and assertive in regards to the things that need to be done to win the war against the Devil. You're not waiting to be on the defensive, you're looking to be on the offensive. You're not waiting to get attacked, you're looking to see how you can penetrate the kingdom of darkness and take even more of the Enemy's territory. That's being vigilant. Making sure he can't get to you, and that you're able to thwart his plans before they're even implemented.
Saints, it's that time. Now is not the time to play with God. Now is not the time to put your spiritual devotion and commitment to Christ on the back-burner. Now is the time to sober up. Now is the time to get vigilant and on fire for Christ. Now is the time to ask, Lord, what would you have me to do? (Acts 9) Now is the time to allow the Spirit to lead you into the Zone of Obedience.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
An Eternal Focus
One of the biggest challenges in life is to be Focused. There are so many distractions in life that it's hard to get focused, let alone stay focused. If you're even remotely ambitious, or have different goals and dreams that you want to achieve and accomplish, you understand the challenge of getting and staying focused. The challenge that I want to address today is not simply "getting" focused, it's where your focus lies. There are people who have been successful in getting focused and being able to achieve the different goals that they've set in life. However, the question that I want to raise today is, are we focused on the right thing? Being focused is one thing, being properly focused is another.
I would suspect that many people, including many Christians, are not focused on the right thing. Why do I say this? Because for many (if not most) people, their focus lies within the Temporal. If we sit down and take a real serious look at our lives, most of what we have prioritized and placed emphasis on lies primarily, if not strictly and solely, on the here and now. Granted, we do have to live on this earth and learn how to function in the Natural realm. But it is not the will of God for us to focus on the Natural realm. That's why Jesus said to seek (focus) ye first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6). The Kingdom of God is not Natural. So if your primary focus is not on the Kingdom of God, then no matter how noble and admirable your goals and aspirations may be, you're focused on the wrong thing.
The reason why many Christians fall into this category is because we have not learned how to develop an Eternal Focus. The mystery of life is learning how to operate in the Eternal Realm while navigating within the Natural and the Temporal. This is the Inheritance of the believer in Christ (Acts 26). The misconception that makes us stumble over this is that we've been inclined to believe that Eternal Life, living and operating in the Eternal Realm, is something that happens "after" you die; after you physically leave this planet Earth. This is incorrect. Eternal Life is not "after" time, it is above time. Time is simply a "very small component" of the Dimension of Eternity. And we were made for Eternity, not for time. That's why the scripture emphasizes that God knew us before we entered time (Jeremiah 1). True life, true joy, true peace, true happiness, true wealth, true prosperity, true love, true greatness, true achievement, true success; lies in the Eternal Realm. Why? Because only there will it never end. Temporal greatness expires. Eternal achievements are just that, Eternal. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you and give you the Grace to make the shift to achieve An Eternal Focus.
I would suspect that many people, including many Christians, are not focused on the right thing. Why do I say this? Because for many (if not most) people, their focus lies within the Temporal. If we sit down and take a real serious look at our lives, most of what we have prioritized and placed emphasis on lies primarily, if not strictly and solely, on the here and now. Granted, we do have to live on this earth and learn how to function in the Natural realm. But it is not the will of God for us to focus on the Natural realm. That's why Jesus said to seek (focus) ye first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6). The Kingdom of God is not Natural. So if your primary focus is not on the Kingdom of God, then no matter how noble and admirable your goals and aspirations may be, you're focused on the wrong thing.
The reason why many Christians fall into this category is because we have not learned how to develop an Eternal Focus. The mystery of life is learning how to operate in the Eternal Realm while navigating within the Natural and the Temporal. This is the Inheritance of the believer in Christ (Acts 26). The misconception that makes us stumble over this is that we've been inclined to believe that Eternal Life, living and operating in the Eternal Realm, is something that happens "after" you die; after you physically leave this planet Earth. This is incorrect. Eternal Life is not "after" time, it is above time. Time is simply a "very small component" of the Dimension of Eternity. And we were made for Eternity, not for time. That's why the scripture emphasizes that God knew us before we entered time (Jeremiah 1). True life, true joy, true peace, true happiness, true wealth, true prosperity, true love, true greatness, true achievement, true success; lies in the Eternal Realm. Why? Because only there will it never end. Temporal greatness expires. Eternal achievements are just that, Eternal. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you and give you the Grace to make the shift to achieve An Eternal Focus.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
A New Dimension of Reality
As we press into 2016, we want to understand that God is calling His children to another level. Unfortunately, some of the saints have already disqualified themselves. However, God is the Judge of that. Therefore, all of us need to press in to get to where God has called all of us to be. The Bible says that the creation waiteth for the Manifestation of the Sons of God (Romans 8). What this means is that the creation is waiting for the Original Man that was created in the Garden of Eden to re-assume the dominion for which God intended humanity to operate in (Genesis 1). In and through Jesus Christ, this Dominion has been restored.
It is time for the believers in Christ to accept and to access the manifestation of the New Creation for which we received when we were born again in Christ Jesus. The Bible says that any man that is in Christ is a new creature (2Corinthians 5). Old things are passed away, and behold all things have become New. So why don't we see demonstrations and manifestations of the New Creation with all of the professing born-again believers in our society and in our world? It's because the manifestation has to be Accessed. Just because you are born-again and regenerated in Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost (Romans 8) does not mean that the manifestation automatically takes place. This is why the Bible says that we have to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12). But before that, it says for us not to be conformed to this world.
Saints, we're going to have to make a decision. Are we going to live for the flesh or abide in the Spirit? This is a decision that has to be made before we can operate in the New Dimension of Reality. We have a lot of sincere Christians that are genuinely anointed and God is using them to bless His people. But the problem , (if you want to describe it this way) is that Christians are being used by God but are still operating in the flesh. Jesus made it clear, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3). Jesus also said that the flesh profiteth nothing, it is the Spirit that giveth life (John 6). As long as you're operating in the flesh, even if you're faithful in ministry, you cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5). Which means you forfeit the operation and the manifestation of the New Dimension of Reality.
It's going to happen saints. There is going to be a Move of God, a Kingdom Movement unlike the world has ever seen . Miracles, Signs, Wonders...it's going to be Awesome! And God will get ALL OF THE GLORY! The question today is, based upon your personal commitment to Christ, are you ready to operate in the New Dimension of Reality.
It is time for the believers in Christ to accept and to access the manifestation of the New Creation for which we received when we were born again in Christ Jesus. The Bible says that any man that is in Christ is a new creature (2Corinthians 5). Old things are passed away, and behold all things have become New. So why don't we see demonstrations and manifestations of the New Creation with all of the professing born-again believers in our society and in our world? It's because the manifestation has to be Accessed. Just because you are born-again and regenerated in Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost (Romans 8) does not mean that the manifestation automatically takes place. This is why the Bible says that we have to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12). But before that, it says for us not to be conformed to this world.
Saints, we're going to have to make a decision. Are we going to live for the flesh or abide in the Spirit? This is a decision that has to be made before we can operate in the New Dimension of Reality. We have a lot of sincere Christians that are genuinely anointed and God is using them to bless His people. But the problem , (if you want to describe it this way) is that Christians are being used by God but are still operating in the flesh. Jesus made it clear, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3). Jesus also said that the flesh profiteth nothing, it is the Spirit that giveth life (John 6). As long as you're operating in the flesh, even if you're faithful in ministry, you cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5). Which means you forfeit the operation and the manifestation of the New Dimension of Reality.
It's going to happen saints. There is going to be a Move of God, a Kingdom Movement unlike the world has ever seen . Miracles, Signs, Wonders...it's going to be Awesome! And God will get ALL OF THE GLORY! The question today is, based upon your personal commitment to Christ, are you ready to operate in the New Dimension of Reality.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
The Fallacy of Human Compassion
Not long ago I had the privilege of working for a human services organization. I was having a conversation with one of the managers there, who happens to be a very good friend of mine, and we were discussing some of the dynamics of the services that the organization rendered to the community. In the course of the conversation my friend became rather "perturbed" at some of my comments about the organization that we were both working for (I think perturbed is a fair description). As the conversation ensued, I believe the manager, who is also a devout Christian, began to understand the vantage point of my comments. Basically my perspective was that just because an organization does good deeds doesn't mean that those deeds are godly nor do they represent the Will of God.
This is an issue that the church is going to have to confront, internally and externally, in the very near future. As the children of God we must come to understand that not all good deeds are godly. There are a lot of things that non-profit corporations do and even a lot of churches, that help people and meet certain needs, but do not represent nor reflect the Divine Will of God. Now, most conventional (and unfortunately Christian) thinking revolves around the belief that if a person is helping people and meeting the needs of others, then this is the Will of God. I want to go on record and make it clear that this is not the case.
It is not the job of the church to do good deeds, it is the job of the church to obey God. Let me say it again: it is not the job or the call of the church to do good deeds, it is the job of the church to obey God. Does this mean we are not to do good deeds? Of course not. The point I'm making is that you don't develop a ministerial agenda that puts helping people above executing under the leadership of the Holy Spirit the Divine Will of God.
Why is this an issue? Because there are many churches that are actually "copying" the work of non-profit and philanthropic organizations in the name of ministry, when this is not the will of God for the church and the Body of Christ. Why is the church called to ministry? Why are we as Christians called to minister to the poor and the least of these? So that the love of God may manifested in the earth and souls are won to Christ. The purpose of ministry is to advance the Kingdom of God. Part of the advancement of the Kingdom is that people will get to know Jesus in the pardon of their sins and accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior. This is the primary objective of the church engaging in what we call outreach ministry.
You have a lot of organizations that do a lot of good and help a lot of people, but are they lifting up the Name of Jesus? You have a lot of government agencies that are truly addressing community needs, but is God getting the Glory? Can I even "talk" about Jesus and Jehovah in certain environments that address community concerns? If I can't lift up the name of Jesus, if I can't openly testify about my God, if I can't share the Good News of the Gospel that souls may be saved, then no matter how good the work is that is being done it is not of God.
This is a stand that the church is going to have to take. We're moving into a season where people are going to be "desperate" for help. God is going to provide us with the resources from Heaven to meet needs in His Name. But we can't be ashamed to give God the Glory. We can't be bashful about proclaiming that we're meeting the needs of the hungry, the homeless, the sick and diseased in obedience to Jesus the Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. There will be a subtle attempt to get the Christian community to downplay who we're working for and just emphasize "helping people". No! We're helping people to glorify God (Matthew 5). Acts of charity and service that are not designed to glorify God and fulfill His redemptive purpose to win souls to Christ demonstrates the Fallacy of Human Compassion.
This is an issue that the church is going to have to confront, internally and externally, in the very near future. As the children of God we must come to understand that not all good deeds are godly. There are a lot of things that non-profit corporations do and even a lot of churches, that help people and meet certain needs, but do not represent nor reflect the Divine Will of God. Now, most conventional (and unfortunately Christian) thinking revolves around the belief that if a person is helping people and meeting the needs of others, then this is the Will of God. I want to go on record and make it clear that this is not the case.
It is not the job of the church to do good deeds, it is the job of the church to obey God. Let me say it again: it is not the job or the call of the church to do good deeds, it is the job of the church to obey God. Does this mean we are not to do good deeds? Of course not. The point I'm making is that you don't develop a ministerial agenda that puts helping people above executing under the leadership of the Holy Spirit the Divine Will of God.
Why is this an issue? Because there are many churches that are actually "copying" the work of non-profit and philanthropic organizations in the name of ministry, when this is not the will of God for the church and the Body of Christ. Why is the church called to ministry? Why are we as Christians called to minister to the poor and the least of these? So that the love of God may manifested in the earth and souls are won to Christ. The purpose of ministry is to advance the Kingdom of God. Part of the advancement of the Kingdom is that people will get to know Jesus in the pardon of their sins and accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior. This is the primary objective of the church engaging in what we call outreach ministry.
You have a lot of organizations that do a lot of good and help a lot of people, but are they lifting up the Name of Jesus? You have a lot of government agencies that are truly addressing community needs, but is God getting the Glory? Can I even "talk" about Jesus and Jehovah in certain environments that address community concerns? If I can't lift up the name of Jesus, if I can't openly testify about my God, if I can't share the Good News of the Gospel that souls may be saved, then no matter how good the work is that is being done it is not of God.
This is a stand that the church is going to have to take. We're moving into a season where people are going to be "desperate" for help. God is going to provide us with the resources from Heaven to meet needs in His Name. But we can't be ashamed to give God the Glory. We can't be bashful about proclaiming that we're meeting the needs of the hungry, the homeless, the sick and diseased in obedience to Jesus the Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. There will be a subtle attempt to get the Christian community to downplay who we're working for and just emphasize "helping people". No! We're helping people to glorify God (Matthew 5). Acts of charity and service that are not designed to glorify God and fulfill His redemptive purpose to win souls to Christ demonstrates the Fallacy of Human Compassion.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Independence v.s Individuality
There's a misconception in the context of marriage that I believe is undermining a lot of marriages and sponsoring many break-ups and divorces. People don't understand the difference between Independence and Individuality. When you get married, if these terms are not clearly defined and proper boundaries set accordingly, you can mix up your marital roles and unintentionally sponsor the demise of your own marriage. We need to gain a better understanding of what these two things mean so that we can apply them properly to our respective marriage relationships.
For the record, when a person gets married, they lose their Independence. The Bible clearly states that a man should leave his mother and father, cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one (Genesis 2). The oneness of marriage precludes independence. Once you get married, you no longer have your "own life". You now literally belong to someone else (1Corinthians 7). If you get married and you're trying to have your own life "independent" of your spouse, then you're not ready to be married. This is a hard pill for some people to swallow. However, no matter how tight it is, it is biblically correct. We must understand that we are "yoked" to our spouse once we get married, and this is by Divine Design.
However, even though you lose your independence in marriage, you don't lose your individuality. You're still and independent person, you just no longer can operate independently. You still have your own mind, your own thoughts, your own opinions. This is your individuality. You don't have to lose your sense of self and your self-concept just because you said "I do". This is where people miss it. Either they go to the extreme of wanting to keep their "own life", or they attempt to simply "lose themselves" in their spouse or in the marriage. Neither one of these perspectives are healthy.
Remember that the Christian's relationship to God is likened to marriage (Isaiah 54). The way God has created us, we were never designed to operate and function independently of God. Everything we do is supposed to be in concert with the Divine Will of God for our lives. However, God didn't make us to be robots. He gave us freedom of choice. Not free will, but Freedom of Choice (Romans 6). And with that freedom of choice, our individuality stays in tact. God did this because the mystery of our relationship with Him and in marriage is "the two becoming one". The individuality is what constitutes the two. The inter-dependence is what constitutes the one. Let's make sure that we ask God for wisdom so that we can properly discern and apply the difference between Independence v.s Individuality.
For the record, when a person gets married, they lose their Independence. The Bible clearly states that a man should leave his mother and father, cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one (Genesis 2). The oneness of marriage precludes independence. Once you get married, you no longer have your "own life". You now literally belong to someone else (1Corinthians 7). If you get married and you're trying to have your own life "independent" of your spouse, then you're not ready to be married. This is a hard pill for some people to swallow. However, no matter how tight it is, it is biblically correct. We must understand that we are "yoked" to our spouse once we get married, and this is by Divine Design.
However, even though you lose your independence in marriage, you don't lose your individuality. You're still and independent person, you just no longer can operate independently. You still have your own mind, your own thoughts, your own opinions. This is your individuality. You don't have to lose your sense of self and your self-concept just because you said "I do". This is where people miss it. Either they go to the extreme of wanting to keep their "own life", or they attempt to simply "lose themselves" in their spouse or in the marriage. Neither one of these perspectives are healthy.
Remember that the Christian's relationship to God is likened to marriage (Isaiah 54). The way God has created us, we were never designed to operate and function independently of God. Everything we do is supposed to be in concert with the Divine Will of God for our lives. However, God didn't make us to be robots. He gave us freedom of choice. Not free will, but Freedom of Choice (Romans 6). And with that freedom of choice, our individuality stays in tact. God did this because the mystery of our relationship with Him and in marriage is "the two becoming one". The individuality is what constitutes the two. The inter-dependence is what constitutes the one. Let's make sure that we ask God for wisdom so that we can properly discern and apply the difference between Independence v.s Individuality.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Going to the Next Level
As we commence the New Year, one of the things that we understand is that 2016 will be a year of Ascension. God is ready to take His people to a Higher Level. God is ready to Elevate His people to the Next Level. The challenge with this is that you have to be properly Positioned and Prepared. If you've been a spiritual slacker or slothful, unfaithful and disobedient, then you can't expect to receive God's Promotion. You'll have to wait till the next class is in session (which could be decades). But if you've been patient and steadfast, then God has a Reward for you. He's ready to take you to the Next Level.
One of the reasons why many Christians don't make it to the Next Level that God has ordained for their lives and their walk with Him is because they give up prematurely. Understand that Going to the Next Level is not simply a "smooth transition", it's tough and it's difficult. As a matter of fact, when God is putting the finishing touches of taking you where He's ordained for you to go, it may actually feel like God is punishing you or that He's in some way abandoned you or is mistreating you. Quite the contrary saints. That's why we walk by faith and not by sight (2Corinthians 5). If you try to assess the movement of God by what you see in the natural, you'll always be disappointed and deceived. That's why you've got to trust God's Word and hope in the promises that you know He's made to you.
Jesus is the perfect example. Remember when He was baptized by John the Baptist and anointed by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove (Matthew 3), you would think that after that He would be ready to roll. That's not how it went down. Next thing we see, Jesus is undergoing one of the greatest seasons of Satanic attack He had ever experienced (Matthew 4). No one's had to endure the type of temptation that Jesus did. Yet it was the prelude to His Ministerial Promotion. That's why after His Wilderness Experience, the next scene we see is Him quoting His Messianic Mission (Isaiah 61) and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom (Luke 4).
It may be hard for you right now saints. But don't give up and don't give in. Now is not the time to quit. Now is the time to gird up your loins and be sober (1Peter 1). Now is the time to make up your mind that you'll never quit. You'll never give up on God. At His lowest point on the Cross, Jesus never gave up on God, and He never gave up on us. He knew that when the pain and suffering was through, God was going to resurrect Him from the dead and transform His pain to Glory. We too have the same promise (Romans 8), if we can stay focused on Going to the Next Level.
One of the reasons why many Christians don't make it to the Next Level that God has ordained for their lives and their walk with Him is because they give up prematurely. Understand that Going to the Next Level is not simply a "smooth transition", it's tough and it's difficult. As a matter of fact, when God is putting the finishing touches of taking you where He's ordained for you to go, it may actually feel like God is punishing you or that He's in some way abandoned you or is mistreating you. Quite the contrary saints. That's why we walk by faith and not by sight (2Corinthians 5). If you try to assess the movement of God by what you see in the natural, you'll always be disappointed and deceived. That's why you've got to trust God's Word and hope in the promises that you know He's made to you.
Jesus is the perfect example. Remember when He was baptized by John the Baptist and anointed by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove (Matthew 3), you would think that after that He would be ready to roll. That's not how it went down. Next thing we see, Jesus is undergoing one of the greatest seasons of Satanic attack He had ever experienced (Matthew 4). No one's had to endure the type of temptation that Jesus did. Yet it was the prelude to His Ministerial Promotion. That's why after His Wilderness Experience, the next scene we see is Him quoting His Messianic Mission (Isaiah 61) and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom (Luke 4).
It may be hard for you right now saints. But don't give up and don't give in. Now is not the time to quit. Now is the time to gird up your loins and be sober (1Peter 1). Now is the time to make up your mind that you'll never quit. You'll never give up on God. At His lowest point on the Cross, Jesus never gave up on God, and He never gave up on us. He knew that when the pain and suffering was through, God was going to resurrect Him from the dead and transform His pain to Glory. We too have the same promise (Romans 8), if we can stay focused on Going to the Next Level.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
The Prophetic Significance of Bill Cosby
One of the hottest items in the news right now is the situation swirling around Bill Cosby. People are asking the question of did he do it? Did his wife know he was unfaithful? Who's behind setting him up? Why are all these women coming out "now"? While all of these may be very legitimate questions, let's first establish that based upon the answers that Mr. Cosby gave in a 2005 deposition regarding similar charges, at the least he admitted to his sexual misconduct and unfaithfulness to his wife. So the allegations are not "beyond belief". But I believe that there is a deeper message regarding this case that the people of God need to recognize.
When the accusations against Bill Cosby were blowing up in the media this summer, the Lord allowed me to read a passage out of the 2nd chapter of the book of Habakkuk. When I read this passage, my spirit immediately went to Bill Cosby. The scripture reads as follows: "Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness! You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also-drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the Lord's right hand will be turned against you, and utter shame will be on your glory." (New King James Version) When I read this passage of scripture this summer, I immediately thought of Bill Cosby, because at the time he was trying to "shrug off" if you will, these allegations against him. At the risk of being judgmental, I felt like if he were guilty of these accusations, that he would not get away with it, he would be exposed (the exact word used in the scripture) and that his glory would turn to shame (once again, the exact terminology used in the aforementioned passage). We are now seeing all of this take place right before our very eyes.
Why does this have prophetic significance? When the Lord had me read this passage, it was during the summer. What also took place during the summer of 2015? The legislation of same-sex marriage. And what the prophetic message was to me, was that just as Bill Cosby was going to be exposed and his glory turned to shame, the same thing would happen to America. All of this is Judgment. Bill Cosby is being judged. We can be sympathetic for him all we want (and there's nothing wrong with that), but God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2). Just like the deeds of Bill Cosby are being judged, the deeds and misconduct of America will be judged as well. Just like Bill Cosby, we've tried to shrug off the abomination of same-sex marriage, we've tried to minimize and dismiss the atrocity of abortion. But no more! This will be the year that we will experience The Season of Judgment! Just look at all of the floods and tornadoes scattered throughout our country. Yes saints, the situation with Bill Cosby has Prophetic Significance. The Judgment of God will not wait forever. The Father has given us space to repent, and we as a nation have refused (Revelation 2). Therefore, America too will be "exposed as uncircumcised...and utter shame will be on your glory". (Habakkuk 2, New King James Version)
When the accusations against Bill Cosby were blowing up in the media this summer, the Lord allowed me to read a passage out of the 2nd chapter of the book of Habakkuk. When I read this passage, my spirit immediately went to Bill Cosby. The scripture reads as follows: "Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness! You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also-drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the Lord's right hand will be turned against you, and utter shame will be on your glory." (New King James Version) When I read this passage of scripture this summer, I immediately thought of Bill Cosby, because at the time he was trying to "shrug off" if you will, these allegations against him. At the risk of being judgmental, I felt like if he were guilty of these accusations, that he would not get away with it, he would be exposed (the exact word used in the scripture) and that his glory would turn to shame (once again, the exact terminology used in the aforementioned passage). We are now seeing all of this take place right before our very eyes.
Why does this have prophetic significance? When the Lord had me read this passage, it was during the summer. What also took place during the summer of 2015? The legislation of same-sex marriage. And what the prophetic message was to me, was that just as Bill Cosby was going to be exposed and his glory turned to shame, the same thing would happen to America. All of this is Judgment. Bill Cosby is being judged. We can be sympathetic for him all we want (and there's nothing wrong with that), but God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2). Just like the deeds of Bill Cosby are being judged, the deeds and misconduct of America will be judged as well. Just like Bill Cosby, we've tried to shrug off the abomination of same-sex marriage, we've tried to minimize and dismiss the atrocity of abortion. But no more! This will be the year that we will experience The Season of Judgment! Just look at all of the floods and tornadoes scattered throughout our country. Yes saints, the situation with Bill Cosby has Prophetic Significance. The Judgment of God will not wait forever. The Father has given us space to repent, and we as a nation have refused (Revelation 2). Therefore, America too will be "exposed as uncircumcised...and utter shame will be on your glory". (Habakkuk 2, New King James Version)
Monday, January 4, 2016
Fighting For Christ
A few days ago I was speaking to a prophet friend of mine, and they shared with me a word that the Lord had given them for 2016. The word was that 2016 was going to be a "Warring Year". Isn't it something that one of the biggest movies of 2015 was entitled "War Room"? The prophetic word registered with my spirit. Saints, if you want 2016 to be a prosperous and successful year, then you need to prepare your heart, mind and body for War. It's time that we prepare to Fight for Christ.
One of the areas that we're going to have to War is in the area of Spiritual Growth. The scripture says in Romans chapter 7, "but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin". The wrestle between the flesh and the Spirit is a War (Galatians 5). And if we're going to continue to progress in Christ we're going to have to fight it. We can't just "go with the flow" and let our fleshly tendencies get the best of us. A lot of times yielding to the flesh is natural (Ephesians 2). But as the children of God, we're not reaching for the natural, we're reaching for the Supernatural. And in order to walk in the Supernatural, we must first learn to endure the un-natural. Yes it will be awkward and uncomfortable, but it's the price you pay when you're Fighting for Christ.
Then we're going to have to Fight for Christ in regards to the advancement of the Kingdom of God. We must always remember that as Christians we are always up against the Enemy (John 10). Satan rules over the kingdom of darkness. Our job is to vanquish that darkness by promoting the Light of the world (John 1). However, in order to carry out this Commission, we have to go to War. We have to be willing to fight for the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Are you ready to fight for Christ and His Kingdom even if it means death? Even if it means the smearing of your reputation? Even if it means the loss of family and friends?
Lastly saints, the prophet said that 2016 is going to be a Warring Year. The prophet did not say this specifically, but I believe that we're going to see actual warfare, like nations fighting nations, in 2016. Yes, America is at war with ISIS right now, but I believe a greater war, literally and physically, awaits this nation this year. I do not have prophetic confirmation on this, this is just my faith. But I said all of last year that America is set up for Divine Judgment and that the Father has declared that HE IS going to Shake America! My personal belief is that part of this Divine Shaking will be manifested in national warfare in the United States of America.
Don't let these things frighten you saints. Use this warning as motivation to get Prepared. This is the Year. I believe that 2016 is going to be a Great Year. God is going to Move in Ways that we've never witnessed before. But in order for the Divine Movement of God to be a Blessing in your life, you must be willing and prepared to Fight for Christ.
One of the areas that we're going to have to War is in the area of Spiritual Growth. The scripture says in Romans chapter 7, "but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin". The wrestle between the flesh and the Spirit is a War (Galatians 5). And if we're going to continue to progress in Christ we're going to have to fight it. We can't just "go with the flow" and let our fleshly tendencies get the best of us. A lot of times yielding to the flesh is natural (Ephesians 2). But as the children of God, we're not reaching for the natural, we're reaching for the Supernatural. And in order to walk in the Supernatural, we must first learn to endure the un-natural. Yes it will be awkward and uncomfortable, but it's the price you pay when you're Fighting for Christ.
Then we're going to have to Fight for Christ in regards to the advancement of the Kingdom of God. We must always remember that as Christians we are always up against the Enemy (John 10). Satan rules over the kingdom of darkness. Our job is to vanquish that darkness by promoting the Light of the world (John 1). However, in order to carry out this Commission, we have to go to War. We have to be willing to fight for the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Are you ready to fight for Christ and His Kingdom even if it means death? Even if it means the smearing of your reputation? Even if it means the loss of family and friends?
Lastly saints, the prophet said that 2016 is going to be a Warring Year. The prophet did not say this specifically, but I believe that we're going to see actual warfare, like nations fighting nations, in 2016. Yes, America is at war with ISIS right now, but I believe a greater war, literally and physically, awaits this nation this year. I do not have prophetic confirmation on this, this is just my faith. But I said all of last year that America is set up for Divine Judgment and that the Father has declared that HE IS going to Shake America! My personal belief is that part of this Divine Shaking will be manifested in national warfare in the United States of America.
Don't let these things frighten you saints. Use this warning as motivation to get Prepared. This is the Year. I believe that 2016 is going to be a Great Year. God is going to Move in Ways that we've never witnessed before. But in order for the Divine Movement of God to be a Blessing in your life, you must be willing and prepared to Fight for Christ.
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