The Sacrifice of Self

If we as Christians and believers in Christ are serious about being all that God would have us to be, it is imperative that we learn and master the spiritual art of The Sacrifice of Self. The misconception in the church is still that sin is the problem. As I've stated on numerous occasions, when it comes to the church, the major problem is not Sin. The reason we embrace this notion is because the basis of our faith and belief is the fact that Jesus has already died for the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1, Colossians 1). Of course this is not a license to sin (Romans 6), but rather it is a provision for the sin that, unfortunately, we as the children of God choose to inevitably commit. The Bible says that if you say you have no sin, the truth is not in you (1John 1). Therefore, whether we grasped this fact conceptually or not, the truth of the matter is that sin, regardless of the kind or type, is not the problem. The problem is Self. The reason why we can't surrender to the Will of the Lord and have His Divine Will fulfilled in our lives is because of our obsession and preoccupation with Self. Until we deal appropriately and effectively with our Selves, we will not be properly be positioned to facilitate a Divine Move of God. For this reason we must commit ourselves to The Sacrifice of Self.


Once again, the root of the problem is Self, not sin. What we must understand is that every sinful activity is rooted in the indulgence and promotion of self. Show me any sin that you want to identify, and I'll show you a person choosing themselves over God. However, if the Self is dead, if we've been crucified to the Self, then we have more capacity for the fulfillment of God's Divine Will for our lives. What's also dangerous about this is that a lot of the things that we do in the name of pleasing and promoting our Selves are, a lot of times, not overtly sinful. This is why we don't think it's a big deal. But what ends up happening is that as the indulgence of self continues to take root in our soul, when we're then challenged to surrender the self in order to make room for the execution of God's Divine Will for our lives, we don't have the capacity because we've been so conditioned to pampering and patronizing the Self. This saints has to stop. No, you may not be doing anything "immoral" or overtly sinful; but as I've already stated, if we don't learn The Sacrifice of Self, we will be ill-equipped to be proponents and participants of the Kingdom Move of God.


I want to challenge everyone, as I challenge myself, to examine yourself and take the time to identify where you (maybe even unconsciously) are engaging and indulging in activity that is geared towards the pleasing and promotion of the Self. One of the primary areas of Self-indulgence is food and eating. There's a reason why so many Americans, including Christians and people in the church, are overweight and not physically healthy. It's not just what we eat but how much we choose to consume. Needless to say, eating is not a sin. And I'd be surprised if many of us would actually fit the description of "gluttony". But (let me use myself as an example) foods like chocolate, sweets, candy cookies; even in moderation are designed to make us "feel good". We're not eating these things for their "nutritional value". Once again, is this wrong or sinful? No it is not. But is it catering to the Self, in most cases it is. That's why you have to examine for yourself and let the Spirit minister to you what areas for which you're catering to your Self.


We can make a long list of things for which we engage and many times over-indulge in, in order to cater to the Self: talking on the phone, watching TV, surfing the internet, shopping, video games. Are you getting the picture? Jesus said that if you're going to be His disciple, the first thing you must do is deny yourself (Matthew 16). Is this easy? No it is not, because we've been so conditioned to "stop sinning" and have ignored the detrimental spiritual effects of catering to our Selves in the midst of being moral. I pray that we will allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the areas for which we need to Deny our Selves so that we can be committed to the discipline of The Sacrifice of Self.

The Point of Resurrection

There's not too many people, believers in Christ that is, that are not looking for some form of Resurrection in their life. When you talk about The Resurrection, the raising from the dead of Jesus Christ (who is the Resurrection, John 11), it speaks of Hope, Renewal, Victory, A Second Chance, Beating the Odds, Life out of Death. These are all things that many of us are reaching for and hoping for in dealing with the various situations and circumstances in our lives. But there's something that we must remember about the dynamics of The Resurrection. Resurrection has a certain vantage point from which it takes place. Resurrection doesn't take place above ground. Resurrection doesn't take place out in the open. There is a Point (vantage point) of Resurrection that has to be reached in order for one to experience the Power and the Miracle of The Resurrection. In order to experience the Resurrection, you have to be at The Point of Resurrection.

The Point of the Resurrection is Underground. There's a reason why people are buried "six feet under". In the biblical days, people were buried in a cave; once again, out of sight. This is what has to happen for many of us before we will have the privilege of experiencing The Resurrection. We must go Underground. We must enter the Darkness of our Spiritual Caves. I know this sounds somber and probably somewhat depressing, but this is the challenge of Resurrection. I know most of us (if not all of us) want to be happy and cheerful, which of course makes sense. But we need to understand, this is not The Point of Resurrection. Some of us are fighting trying to feel good and "stay positive", when unbeknownst to yourself, you're actually working against your spiritual progress and breakthrough. We must learn to surrender to The Point of Resurrection.

The scripture says in the 4th chapter of the Book of James, "be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness". Not exactly a recipe for a good time is it? But it's exactly the prescription for The Point of Resurrection. Do you understand that your present sorrow is Redemptive? Do you know that God is allowing you to go through these trying and difficult times, emotionally, physically, relationally, financially, occupationally, ministerially; because He's trying to raise you to another Level, another Dimension? That's what the Resurrection represents; a whole new Level of Living and a whole new Dimension of Existence and Being. But the portal is the Point of Resurrection.

This is what Jesus had to experience in order to fulfill His Calling as The Son of God. The scripture says in the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, "yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief". The Father divinely orchestrated and ordained the suffering of His Son. The crucifixion of Christ was not happenstance or a fortuitous set of events. God set the whole thing up. And can I tell you something, whether you believe it or not, He's setting up your situation to. I know that some of it you may have "brought on yourself". But what does the Word say, "and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8). So if you love Him, you're good. But all that Jesus went through was in the name of getting Him to The Point of Resurrection. And since Jesus was raised from the dead, there's been no looking back. Jesus has been ruling the Heavens and the Earth, seated at the Right Hand of the Father, ever since (Matthew 28, Colossians 3). And there'll be no looking back for you too as you surrender and submit to The Point of Resurrection.

Revolution vs Rebellion

As we prepare to witness the Kingdom Move of God released in the earth, there's a decision that we must make on the front end in regards to the strategic approach that we are willing to take as it relates to the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, as it is in Heaven. We must decide if the Move of God is going to represent a Revolution or a Rebellion. You would think on the surface that it wouldn't make much difference. But believe it or not, it can make all the difference in the world. When you look at the formation of America in the 18th century, it's not called "The American Rebellion". It's called "The American Revolution". Why? Because there is a distinct difference between a Revolution v.s a Rebellion.

A Revolution is that which represents a Movement. A Rebellion is that which represents a Moment. A Revolution is response-oriented. A Rebellion is reaction-driven. A Revolution seeks to bring about systemic and social change. A Rebellion often in results in social chaos and division without necessarily resulting in structural social change. For this reason saints we must decide on the front end, what do we want? Do we want a Kingdom Revolution or do we want a social rebellion?

When you look at the various protests that have grown out of the police shootings of African-American men throughout the country, you'll find that a lot of the responses were rebellious, but not necessarily Revolutionary. Marching is good, protests are good, vocal and verbal denouncement of injustice is needed and called for. But when people get through marching, when they get though protesting, one must ask the question; what has really changed? Could this be part of the reason why the police continue to shoot and kill African-American men in this country? If this is a situation that needs to be socially addressed (and of course it is), then there needs to be a systematic approach that's going to bring about Revolutionary Change. If such a Revolution is taking place in this regards, then the media is not doing a good job of giving it coverage.

The Civil Rights Movement was Revolutionary. Why? Because it was spearheaded by a systematic approach to bring about social change in regards to race relations in America. And by the Grace of God, it did just that. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his leadership team did not wait for something to take place in the nation for them to react to; they created the action. After the incident with Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-1956, Dr. King spent the next decade (through the end of his life) proactively addressing racial discrimination and segregation in this country. It was a Movement that grew out of a Revolution.

When looking at the Kingdom Movement demonstrated in the Book of Acts, the scripture says that when the authorities arrested Peter and John, they assessed that the apostles were ignorant and unlearned men, but that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4). The scripture says that through the leadership of the apostles, the Kingdom Movement of the Book of Acts literally "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17). Meaning, they changed the world. This is the Call that God is making to the church for such a time as this. God is calling us as Kingdom Representatives and Soldiers of Christ to walk in the Power of the Holy Spirit to literally change the world. Not just change the church, but the world. This will not be a church movement, this will not be a denominational movement, this will be Movement from Heaven, sponsored by Almighty God to usher in the Kingdom of His Dear Son, Jesus the Christ. It will not be a momentary, reactionary rebellion; it will be a Kingdom Revolution that will usher in the Millennial Rule of Christ for Eternity.

Reconciliation

The God we serve is a God of Reconciliation. The scripture says that God was in Christ "reconciling the world unto Himself" (2Corinthians 5). If Reconciliation is important to the Father, then it needs to be important to us as well. The opposite of Reconciliation is alienation and separation. This describes the state and status of many of our relationships, even in the church and in the Body of Christ. Needless to say, this is not the Will of God. As the children of God we need to be more deliberate and more intentional about reconciling many of the estranged and distant relationships that we have. If we're going to be like our Father, then we're going to have to address the need for Reconciliation.

The scripture says in 2Corinthians 5, "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them". One of the keys to Reconciliation, particularly relationally, is Forgiveness. We would not be reconciled to the Father if He had not forgiven us our trespasses and sins. This is what God requires us to do as well. Many of us have people that have hurt us, that have wronged us, that have wounded us; and we feel that the best way to deal with them and what was done to us by them is to just leave them alone. Even though there may be times where this is appropriate, understand that it is never appropriate Not to Forgive. If you're holding a grudge against someone, if you're harboring bitterness and contempt towards someone because of what they did or did not do, then you're operating outside of the Divine Will of God. The scripture clearly states, "let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger...be put away from you" (Ephesians 4). The same passage also states, "and be ye kind one to another...forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you". We don't have the right not to forgive those who have hurt us or done us wrong. No one has abused you to the extent for which Christ was abused, oppressed and persecuted. No one! And remember, we deserve to go to Hell. But only because of the Grace and Mercy of God, we've been reconciled to the Father in spite of our sin. So in order for Reconciliation to take place there has to be Forgiveness. There has to be a release of the debt, of the grievance and of the offense that was perpetrated towards you.

Then, in order for Reconciliation to take place, you must have a Heart of Grace. Grace can be defined as God's Unconditional Acceptance of us In Spite of us. Do you understand that God already knows that we're going to sin and loves us anyway? God's not waiting for us to "get it right" before He loves us; He accepts us right where we are. This is what the Father expects of us as His children as well. Some of you are staying mad at folks and family members, waiting for them to "change" before you have anything to do with them. What if God waited on you to change before He decided to "have anything to do with you"? Do you see what I'm saying? To hold grudges and project these "expectations" upon certain people is hypocritical, if you call yourself a Christian. Now of course, the Bible makes it clear that if you don't forgive others their trespasses, then the Father will not forgive you of yours (Matthew 6). So maybe the real issue is that you're not really saved at all, since you can't dispense the same Forgiveness that makes you saved.

In any case, bottom line saints, we need to start Forgiving people and we need to start accepting people where they are. All of these divisions and schisms in our families, in our homes and particularly in our churches, we're seeing it in our nation; none of this is the Will of God. Let's be like our Heavenly Father, let's exhibit the Mind of Christ, and let's be about the business of Reconciliation.

The Pride of Life

As we continue to prepare for and anticipate the Kingdom Move of God, we want to understand that just like Movements get started, they can also be stopped. This is my concern for the coming Kingdom Move that God has ordained for the earth. If we as the people of God are not careful, we can unwittingly find ourselves stopping the Move unintentionally. How so? By operating in the Pride of Life. The spirit of pride and the Pride of Life is one of the most deadliest things to a Move of God and true Movement of the Spirit of God. If you look at the various Moves of God that have taken place historically, many of them (if not most) at some point came to a close. How does the Move of an Eternal God just come to a screeching halt? Because of the pride of man. The thing about Pride is that it's not something that we hear preached about often. (Maybe because we as preachers can be some of the biggest proponents thereof) We talk about sins of immorality and what not, but Pride is the killer, especially of a Move of God, individually as well as collectively. We need to make sure that we aren't operating, even subconsciously, in the Pride of Life.

Let's first define Pride. Pride is a spirit that can unknowingly make you compete with the position of God. The reason I define it that way is because when you're operating in Pride, there's something that you feel that you're entitled to for which you're willing to impose your self upon others to get. This is why Pride can be so subtle and insidious. A lot of times when we're operating in Pride we feel like we're justified in how we feel; that's why it's hard a lot of times to overtly detect it unless you've developed a sensitivity to how the spirit of pride manifests itself, particularly through your own personality. If we're not careful, the spirit of Pride can undermine everything that God wants to accomplish and has ordained for your life.

Let's look at some examples of Pride. One is Jealousy. When you find yourself jealous or envious of someone, this grows out of the spirit of pride. This is one of the dangers that we must be guarded against with this Kingdom Move. God is going to move in Miracles, Signs and Wonders; and He's going to move through those who are spiritually conditioned and prepared. Well, if "Brother Johnson" is being used in a way that you're not, if you're operating in the Pride of Life, you're going to start wondering "why is Bro. Johnson being used like that and I'm not?  I'm just as spiritual and anointed as he is". See how that works. That's the Pride of Life. There are churches and ministries that right now just have a handful of people in attendance. But when the Movement begins to manifest, there won't be enough room to hold all of the people. There will be haters, instead of congratulators. This is Pride. We must get the focus off of ourselves if we're going to escape The Pride of Life.

The opposite of Pride is Humility. When you're walking in a Spirit of Humility you've forsaken the spirit of entitlement. This is the root of pride and what causes a lot of dissension and disagreement, particularly in the church. When you have to be right, when you have to have your way, when you must have the last word, when you flex because of your position or authority; all of this is Pride, and it gets in the way of God. Many marriages and churches have been broken up simply because of Pride. Jesus mastered Humility (Philippians 2). He expects us to do the same. The Bible says that God resists the proud but giveth grace to the humble (James 4). If you want God on your side and you want the Move of God to be sustained in your life, let the Spirit teach you how to forsake and refuse The Pride of Life.

Struggle v.s Rebellion

There's an area as it relates to our Christian walk that needs to be addressed, that can directly affect our spiritual and eternal destiny. We need to distinguish between Struggling with the will of God and rebelling against the will of God. The two are not the same. Some of us struggle with sin and struggle with disobedience to God. Which is a large part of the maturity process in Christ. However, there are others of us that are not struggling with the will of God, we are straight out rebelling against the will of God. We have said in our hearts that we are "not" going to do what God has told us to do. Believe me saints, there is a difference between Struggle v.s Rebellion.

A lot of us, if not all of us, struggle with the performance and execution of God's Divine Will for our lives. The scripture says very clearly that, "when I would do good, evil is present with me" (Romans 7). All of us at some point in our Christian walk have struggled with doing the right thing, doing the Will of God. This is normal. The reason such is the case is because all of us have what is called a "sinful nature" (Romans 7-8, Galatians 5). There's an internal struggle within every believer between good and bad, right and wrong. The Bible says that when you want to do good and you end up doing the wrong that you're trying to avoid, that's not you, that's the sin in you (Romans 7). That's not theology, that's Bible. However, if the Holy Spirit resides within you, then when you mess up and go against God's Divine Will for your life, then you are convicted by the Holy Ghost (John 16). If you can sin and not be concerned or pressed, then, with all due respect, I question your Christianity and your salvific status. You can't be born-again and not be convicted when you knowingly disobey God. Even if it's not "intentional", when you consciously disobey God, the Holy Spirit is going to convict you and let you know in your spirit, that you are wrong. This is the Struggle that we all experience as it relates to the execution of God's Divine Will for our lives.

But there are others of us for whom the Lord has made known what His Will is for our lives, what He would have us to do, and we've simply said No. This is dangerous my brothers and sisters. It's alright to "fail" at the Will of God, but it's not alright to "rebel" against the Will of God. If you're struggling, that's okay, God has Grace for that. And believe me, His Grace is sufficient (John 1, 2Corinthians 12). But when you get to the point to where in your heart and mind you simply refuse to do what God has told you to do, then you're flirting with blasphemy. I'm not talking about "struggling with a call" or being "overtaken in a fault" (Galatians 6). Once again, God has Grace for that. But when you've made up your mind to be in a "state" of disobedience to God, then you're moving into blasphemy; and blasphemy is the denial of the leadership of the Holy Spirit for your life (Matthew 12). It is the only unforgivable sin. Therefore you need to understand, when you get to a place where you've told God adamantly and repeatedly that you're not going to submit and subscribe to His Divine Will for your life, this is blasphemy and is unforgivable. Which means, you're going to Hell. Please understand the gravity and seriousness of Struggle v.s Rebellion.

Fight

Saints, we are entering a season for the next several weeks of the summer where we really need to be on Spiritual Alert. We have seen the activity of the Enemy throughout our country and throughout our world over the last several weeks and months. Rampant killings, shootings, murder and violence. Needless to say, none of this is of God, all of this is of the devil. That being said, I believe that the attacks, in addition to remaining on a collective level, are now going to be manifested more individually. Satan's going to try to do what he does, "steal, kill and destroy" (John 10). However, as believers in Christ, we know that Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world (1John 4). Yet and still, even with this understanding, if we're going to operate in Victory and defeat the wiles of the devil, we're going to have to Fight.

The Bible says to fight the good fight of faith (1Timothy 6). Some of the situations and circumstances for which some of us are about to encounter are going to require that you Fight the Good Fight of Faith. Satan's going to try to knock you out and knock you down. Things may happen to certain family members and loved ones. Something unexpectedly may happen with your finances that can temporarily mess you up. Something may happen relationally where it seemed like everything was "going smoothly" and then all of a sudden the bottom just seems start falling out. I'm not "prophesying" any of this; I'm saying that based upon the current activity of the Evil One, we need to be prepared. If, God forbid, something does happen to knock you off your block, the correct response is not frustration. The correct response is not anger. The correct response is not resignation and depression. The correct response is to Fight. Fight your way through the depression. Fight your way through the pain. Fight your way through the disappointment. Fight! Don't give up and don't give in, Fight.

The Bible says that Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. If you're going to Fight through whatever the devil may send your way, you're going to have to do it by Faith. This is not something you want to try to work through or resolve within your own strength. You need the Strength of the Lord. In order to get the type of strength required to Fight the Fight of Faith, you need to be in the Word of God. Get into the Word of God. Read the Bible, read the scriptures, everyday. The only way you're going to make it successfully and prosperously is to know what God is saying and to heed the Word of the Lord. This is not just restricted to the written Word of God. Some of you have already received a prophetic word that has given you strategies for how to deal with the devil's attacks. Do what God is telling you to do! Get out of all this "analytical approach" to the prophetic Word of God. If you know that you're dealing with an anointed prophet of God, particularly one that has a track record in your life for accurately relaying to you what "thus saith the Lord", then do what the Lord is prophetically telling you to do. For those who have been a recipient of a prophetic word on more than one occasion and, for whatever reason, have failed to heed the prophetic instruction given to you by the Lord, I ask you this question: aren't you tired of losing? When you fail to heed and follow prophetic instructions, you're going to Lose. Now is not the time to be a spiritual loser when Victory is so available.

Fight saints, that's all I can say, Fight. For some it won't be easy, and for others the attacks may seem more severe and intense than others. But remember the Word of the Lord, "and this is the Victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1John 5). God has already secured for us the Victory, but if you want to receive it and walk in it, you have to Fight.

Forfeiture of the Kingdom

There is a grave concern that I have for many people in our country, throughout the world, in many of our churches and for many professing Christians. My concern is that many of us are positioning ourselves to experience a Forfeiture of the Kingdom of God. This may not be of concern to some, but if you are a born-again believer in Christ, you need to examine during this season where you are in terms of your Inheritance in the Kingdom of God. There's a grave misconception in the church that needs to be rectified as we embark upon this Kingdom Move that the Father is getting ready to release in the earth. Just because you're saved does not mean that you will inherit the Kingdom of God. Let me say it again: just because you're saved, just because you've accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, does not mean that you are automatically entitled to an Inheritance in the Kingdom of God. This needs to be clarified because there are, I believe, more than a few believers that are going to be mildly surprised when they get to Heaven (by the Grace of God) to find that there is a distinction between the residents of Heaven and those who reign in Glory. All of us have been ordained to reign, but you have to spiritually qualify. Such is the case with the Kingdom Move that's about to be released in the earth. Make sure that you're not guilty of Forfeiture of the Kingdom.

There's a passage of scripture in Galatians chapter 5 that I believe has been grossly misinterpreted. The scripture says that if you engage in the works of the flesh (fornication, adultery, drunkenness and such like) that "they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God". People have misinterpreted this text to think that if you engage in works of the flesh that you will not go to Heaven, or in effect, that you are not saved. This is incorrect. Remember, we're saved by Grace through Faith, which is the Gift of God not by works lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2). So your Salvation is not contingent upon what you do or don't do, it's contingent upon your faith. We also know this is true because Paul says earlier in this same chapter, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace". And if you read the entire epistle to the Galatians, you'll find that Paul's major them is Justification by Grace. So he's not going to switch up near the end of his letter and start preaching "salvation by works".

 We must understand the context of the Kingdom. There's a difference between being a child of God and an heir of God. You can be a child of God, born again by the Spirit, but not qualify to be an Heir of God, one who is entitled to receive an Inheritance, which is the Kingdom of God. In Jewish culture, just because a child was biologically born into the family, didn't automatically make them an heir. That's our understanding in our Western culture, but it was different in Hebrew culture. In Hebrew culture, when the child became mature enough to participate in the family business and mature enough to walk with the authority of the family, then that child was adopted by the parents to become a joint heir. This is supported scripturally in Galatians chapter 4 where it says, "the heir, as long as he is a child differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all". Saints, if we continue to walk in spiritual immaturity, indulging the lusts of the flesh, engaging in selfish and self-centered pursuits, wallowing in pride and filled with arrogance and conceit; we disqualify ourselves from Kingdom Inheritance. You can't be self-absorbed and self-indulgent and reign in the Kingdom of God. You can't walk in Divine Power and selfish pride at the same time. Now is the time saints to Repent (Acts 3). Let us turn from our sinful ways and disobedient posture, let us submit to the Divine Will of God and the leadership of His Spirit (Romans 8). Once again, let us not be guilty of Forfeiture of the Kingdom.

Punished for Doing the Right Thing

Have you ever felt like you were doing the right thing, and as a result you were being punished for it? You know you've been committed and faithful to God, you know you've been submissive to His Divine Will for your life, and still it seemed like the bad as opposed to blessings were coming your way? Saints I can't explain it, but there are times in our walk with the Lord where it may actually seem like we're being Punished for Doing the Right Thing. This is not a phenomenon that I can claim to understand, but yet it is one that is consistent with those who faithfully and closely walk with the Lord. That's what makes it seem like such a paradox. You would think that the "closer" you are to the Lord, the more immune you are to negativity and bad things happening to you. Generally, by the Grace of God, this is the case. But as believers in Christ, particularly if you're a Devoted Disciple, we need to understand and be cognizant of the fact that there is a place in our walk with Christ where we can be challenged to be Punished for Doing the Right Thing.

Let's look at a couple of examples. One prime example is that of Joseph. Joseph shared with his family the dreams that God gave him, and as a result his brothers got jealous and sold him into slavery (Genesis 37). Joseph did nothing wrong; but when you're the object of envy and jealousy, you can definitely experience being Punished for Doing the Right Thing. Then, when Joseph was in Egypt, the Lord blessed him while he served in Potiphar's house (Genesis 39). But Potiphar's wife wanted to sleep with Joseph and continued to make advances towards him. It got to the point where Potiphar's wife practically threw herself at Joseph, and he did exactly what the Bible says, "flee fornication" (1Corinthians 6). But after he refused the advances of Potiphar's wife, she had Joseph framed for attempted rape and thrown in jail, where he served for two years. The man did nothing wrong! As a matter of fact he did the "right" thing. Yet and still, he was Punished for Doing the Right Thing.

Then we have Job, a man that God described as perfect and upright, one that feared God and eschewed evil (Job 1). Yet with this glowing Divine Report, Job still lost his children, his wealth, his reputation and his health. But once again, the man did nothing wrong. All he did was be faithful to God and do the Will of the Lord. However, with all of that, at the hands of Satan he was Punished for Doing the Right Thing.

The last and most poignant example is that of Jesus, a man who knew no sin (2Corinthians 5), who spent all His life ministering to the needs of others. But yet, in accordance with the Divine Plan of the Father (Acts 2), Jesus suffered like no other human being had suffered in the history of humanity. Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world! (John 1). Of all men who ever lived, Jesus not only did nothing wrong, He did everything right. But yet and still, He was Punished for Doing the Right Thing.

However, before you get discouraged, understand that even though the Father allowed all of these men to go through undue suffering and anguish, it was all temporary and it led to a Greater Glory that the Father had ordained. Joseph didn't stay in prison, he became the second highest ruler in all of Egypt (Genesis 41). God gave Him such wisdom that Joseph was able to save not only the nation of Egypt in the midst of 7 years of famine but most of the known world (Genesis 41). Job didn't stay sick, God restored everything he lost. And not only did God restore to Job everything, He gave him a double portion (Job 42). And then with Jesus, the Father has given Him a Name that is above every name (Philippians 2). Jesus rules all of Heaven and Earth (Matthew 28). What's my point. Whatever God is allowing you to go through and experience that you feel that you're having to endure "unjustly" is not to break you, it's to make you. It's not to destroy you, it's to develop you. It's not to punish you, it's to Promote you. If you know in your heart and spirit that you have been faithful to the Lord and been obedient to His Will and to His Word, then don't let this "temporary" (and believe me, it's only temporary) episode get you down and depressed. Don't get lost in the "woe is me" syndrome. Rejoice! Your Breakthrough is on the way. Rejoice! Your Miracle is on the way. Rejoice! Your Promotion is on the way. Rejoice! Because this is the pattern that God has established for those who get Punished for Doing the Right Thing.

Now Is The Time

I'm sure that there are many of us who have been "waiting on the Lord". God has made many promises to you over the years. You've been as faithful and diligent as you know to be; but still at this very moment, those promises don't seem to have come to fruition. It can be easy to get "impatient" with God. But I would like to encourage you not to be so. God's timetable is much different than ours. His vantage point of perspective, as God, is infinitely different from ours. With that being the case, don't get discouraged, don't get disgusted, and don't be depressed. This is not the Will of God for you. No, what we want to understand, regardless of our feelings and regardless of our current circumstances is that Now Is The Time.


I'm sure you've heard that over and over again. "This is the year" or "this is the season". However, you didn't hear me say any of that. What I said is that Now Is The Time. Now is the time for what? Is it time for you to have your prayers answered? Is it time for you to receive your Blessing? Is it time for your Breakthrough? Is it time for your Miracle? Maybe. It may be time for all of that. But what it "is" Time for all of us to do is to walk in expectation of the Next Dimension that God is getting ready to release in the earth. Why? Because Now Is the Time.


One of the greatest spiritual challenges that a lot of Christians in Western society have to face is overcoming the spirit of Individualism. Even as it relates to our relationship with God and our walk with Christ, we still have a way of making it about Me, Myself and I. Let me assure you, the Individualistic spirit that pervades this country is not of God. Whether you're fully aware of it or not, it really is not about you. Not even "all about you", no, it's not about you. It's not about when you're going to receive your spouse. It's not about when you're going to get that job promotion. It's not about when you're going to get that new house. It's not about when you're going to receive that "financial breakthrough". No. It's not about you! These are some of the things, and other things in the Natural, that many of us have been waiting on God for. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but when God doesn't deliver on "your timetable", it fosters frustration, disappointment, and sometimes even bitterness. Needless to say, none of this is the Will of God. So no, we're not talking about those things when we say that Now Is The Time.


No saints, now is not the time for individual pursuits and materialistic pleasures. Now Is The Time to prepare to operate in a New Dimension of Reality. People in the world, and unfortunately many Christians, don't understand what God is doing in the earth. He's ready to usher in a whole new Reality of Existence in this world. The icons that have died, the terrorist attacks that are happening all over the world, the social upheaval and civil unrest that is affecting the planet (Turkey, the Middle East, police officers in America). None of this is a coincidence. God is allowing all these things to take place, and have you noticed "back to back to back", to get our attention. He's serving notice to the earth that He is doing a New Thing (Isaiah 43). But are you ready? Are you ready to operate in the Kingdom Dimension of God? Are you ready to operate in the Supernatural? Are you ready to witness "consistently" Miracles, Signs and Wonders? Are you ready to walk in Purpose Fulfillment? Are you ready to fulfill the mandate of Discipleship by Bearing your Cross daily? These are the things that as believers in Christ we need to focus on because I can assure you saints, Now Is The Time.

Worshipers and Warriors

As we prepare to embrace the Kingdom Move of God, there are two areas that we need to make sure that we are spiritually proficient in; that is operating as a Worshiper and a Warrior. If there are two areas that you want to maximize on during this season of your walk with Christ, it's making sure you know how to Worship, and that you are prepared to be a Warrior for Christ. Let me also say that for some of us, we might be proficient in one of two of these areas. But for the times that are about to be upon us, and the Mandate of the Kingdom, you need to be diligent to make sure that you are focused and committed to both. To operate faithfully and productively as a participant in the Kingdom of God, you need to be a Worshiper and a Warrior.

The scripture says that those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4). Please understand that going to church every Sunday, which we describe as going to worship, doesn't automatically make you a worshiper. In order to be, as the Bible describes, a "true worshiper" (John 4) of the Lord Jesus Christ, your life has to be a demonstration and a reflection of your worship to God. Therefore, being a worshiper of the Father has more to do than just what you do on Sunday morning. First off, in order to be a Worshiper, you have to develop a Lifestyle of Praise. Hopefully you're not one of those Christians that goes to church on Sunday morning and can't "wait" for the Praise and Worship period to end. If that's you let me tell you now, you're not ready to receive The Kingdom of God. By the Grace of God, you might be saved, but if your heart's not into worshiping God and giving God praise, you definitely are not Kingdom ready. The Bible says very clearly, "let everything that hath breath, Praise the Lord" (Psalm 150). Praise is mandatory for the Kingdom of God. And not just on Sunday morning, but everyday. You need to take time everyday, just like you do to the read the Word (I know I'm being presumptuous), you need to give God Praise. This is what allows you to become a Worshiper.

Then saints, we've got to become Warriors for Christ. The days of sitting in the pews and watching the preachers and pastors do everything are over. No, you may not have "reverend" or "minister" in front of your name, but either way, you are still a servant of the Most High God. God has gifted and anointed you just like He has any preacher or minister at your church, including your pastor. But the challenge is, you have to "stir up those gifts" (2Timothy 1). God has a Calling for your life. And no, it may not be to pastor a church or preach in the "traditional way" of how we recognize preaching in our local congregations. But as a born-again believer in Christ in whom the Holy Spirit of God resides, God has gifted you and anointed you to do a work in the earth that is going to advance His Kingdom for generations to come. Let me tell you also that what it is that God is calling you to do may have nothing to do with the "organized church". Jesus didn't come to save the church, He came to save the world (John 3). The Kingdom Movement is for the world, those lost souls that don't know Christ in the pardon of their sins. We need some Christians that are going to fight to be a witness in the streets, in the workplace, in the board rooms, in the classrooms; and not just in the pulpit and the sanctuary. If we want to see a Move of God manifested in the earth, it's going to require Christians that are Worshipers and Warriors.

Celebrity v.s Servanthood

There's a phenomenon taking place in our churches and in the world of Christianity that, if we're going to see a sustained Move of God in our country, needs to be addressed and dealt with. We're finding that more than a few of our ministers and preachers are aspiring to what could be described as "Christian Celebrity Status". This, of course, is not a new thing; but it has a little different twist with the technology of social media. With youtube and twitter and other forms of social media, people can try to become a "star" in the ministry practically overnight. Let me say very quickly that this is not the Will of God. A lot of times we see preachers on tv that are genuinely gifted and anointed, and experience a lot of fame and notoriety. Nothing is wrong with this, as fame and name recognition is actually part of the Blessing of God (Genesis 12). But this is not what we're supposed to be reaching for as ministers of the Gospel and the Ambassadors for Christ. This selfish ambition is affecting the spirit and focus that a lot of young ministers come into the ministry with; thinking that being "famous" in the Ministry is the distinguishing mark of success. This assessment is incorrect. We must clarify and distinguish between being a Celebrity and Servanthood.

We have not been called to be celebrities in the church. That's not what God has called us to do. God has called us to be Servants of the Most High God. This is what we have been called and anointed to do. If you've been called to preach or to the ministry, and you're reaching or positioning yourself for people to "know who you are", then your focus is off. The danger with reaching for being a Christian Celebrity is that when you follow this particular path, you begin to make decisions that are more catered towards pleasing the people as opposed to pleasing God. A celebrity is someone of the "people's choice". A celebrity is someone who is "celebrated" by the masses. However, the biblical record shows that most of the people that God used for His Kingdom Purposes were not always popular (Acts 6). King Saul messed up in this area, trying to please the people rather than be obedient to God (1Samuel 15). As a result he lost his crown and he lost his kingship. In other words, he lost his ministry.

As always, Jesus is the perfect example. The scripture says that Jesus, "made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a Servant" (Philippians 2). Jesus making Himself of no reputation means that He wasn't trying to be a star. He wasn't trying to be a celebrity. He wasn't trying to be accepted and affirmed by the people. Jesus' focus was on being a Servant; and remember He was God. Which means He was worthy of worship. But that was not His focus, and neither should it be ours. That's why Jesus gave the lesson to the disciples of washing their feet (John 13). This is why Jesus told the disciples that the greatest among you is your servant (Matthew 23). Let's quit trying to please the crowd. Let's quit trying to draw the masses, just for the sake of numbers. Let us commit ourselves to the spirit of ministry for which Jesus demonstrated and exemplified all during his earthly sojourn. Let us aspire to be Spiritual Servants, not Christian Celebrities.

The Ministry of Marriage

As we continue to grapple with the defilement and desecration of the Sacred Institution of Marriage in this country, we need to make sure that we understand truly what Marriage is. There is an oversight taking place in regards to Marriage that even many Christians are missing. Marriage is more than just an institution, it's more than just a social arrangement, it's more than just the foundation of the family; Marriage is a Ministry. The reason why this is important to keep in mind even as a believer in Christ is because no one, all things considered, gets into Ministry with the idea of serving themselves. There are, of course, many people who use the Ministry for self-gain and self-serving purposes; but even with that, it's understood that in order to "profit" from ministry, you have to effectively "serve" people. This is where a major part of the breakdown of marriage is taking place in our society. Deep down, and this includes many Christians, people are convinced that Marriage has been designed to make them happy. Wrong. That's why American society at-large can condone the perversion of marriage with the legalization of same-sex marriage, because by and large people think that everybody should "have a right" to do what makes them happy. But the mistake in understanding is that marriage wasn't designed to make man happy, it was designed to Glorify God. And what will help reinforce this original intent and purpose of marriage is to develop a better understanding of The Ministry of Marriage.

Let's first establish that being a husband or wife is more than simply "marital roles", they are actually spiritual offices. Just like people serve in the "office" of a pastor, just like people serve in the "office" of a prophet, just like people serve in the "office" of a deacon; when you get married you serve in either the  "office" of a husband or the "office" of a wife (Ephesians 5). This is important to understand because all of the aforementioned offices are, once again, Ministries. Anybody serving in the office of pastor, or a prophet or a deacon, understands instinctively that their calling and their job is to Serve, period. Such is the case with the office of the husband and wife. God has ordained these two offices in the Ministry of the Family to, first, serve one another and then to serve their children and then the greater community at large. Once this fundamental understanding is reestablished in regards to The Ministry of Marriage, maybe the crippling effect of self-centeredness and individualism won't infect the spirit that people bring into their marriages, which ultimately ends up destroying their marriage. We must adopt the posture that is required in the office of a husband or wife in order to fulfill The Ministry of Marriage.

Lastly, there's one "primary" responsibility that each office holds in the fulfillment of The Ministry of Marriage. It's not the "only" responsibility, but it's the Primary responsibility if the marriage is going to be functional and fulfill the purpose for which God has ordained. The Husband has to serve and the Wife has to submit (Ephesians 5). Let's start with the Husband. The misconception that has been adopted within our cultural conditioning is that the Husband is supposed to "be in charge". And of course we back this assumption up with the scripture that says that the husband is the head of the wife (Ephesians 5). But where people miss it, including a lot of Christian men, is that yes, the Husband is the head, but he's supposed to lead his wife by serving her the way Christ serves the church (Ephesians 5). The way Christ served the church is by loving her to death (literally). Husbands and those men who plan to get married, are you loving your wife "to death"? Supporting her, serving her, protecting her, covering her, sacrificing for her, putting her needs above your own, absorbing her pain, feeling her hurts. This is what it means for the office of the husband to love the wife as Christ loved the church. And then wives, your primary responsibility is to submit to your husband. This doesn't mean that you have to obey your husband like a dog does its master. It means that you take the time to find out who and where your husband is emotionally, spiritually, physically and relationally, and then you posture yourself to yield to that so that you can appropriately follow your husband and submit to his leadership for your family. This is not easy because it requires that the wife "get out of herself". But is this not what Christ is calling the church to do, to deny ourselves? (Matthew 16). Saints, there's much work to do. But I can assure you, many of the challenges that this country is facing right now will not be resolved until there's a Restoration of God's Divine Order for the Family. We can contribute to that Restoration process if we adopt and embrace The Ministry of Marriage.

The Perfection of Power

One of the challenges that the church has had over the last several decades is the weakness of our witness regarding a demonstration of Spiritual Power. The church may have a lot of organization, the church may have structure, the church has good preaching and the church may even have a lot of diverse and in many cases effective ministries. But by and large, one of the things that the mainstream church does not have is Power. This is a problem, because one of the reasons that Jesus died was for His people to walk in power (Acts 1). The Power of the Holy Ghost is available to the church. If you are a born-again believer in Christ in whom the Holy Spirit of God resides and dwells, then you can walk and operate in the Supernatural Power of God. We need to make sure that people understand that Divine Power is not restricted to the offices of the Apostle and the Prophet. Yes, the function of these offices are supposed to walk in and demonstrate the Supernatural Anointing of Christ. But just for the record, you don't have to be an apostle to heal the sick. You don't have to be a prophet to perform miracles. This is why Jesus said, "these signs shall follow them that believe" (Mark 16). However, regardless of your office, and no matter how spiritual you may be, you will not be able to access, let alone sustain, Supernatural Power unless you experience The Perfection of Power.

One of the things that I'm learning is that if you're serious about being used as a vessel of God for the Kingdom Movement and walk in Supernatural Power, there's a literal pruning and purging process that you must endure. You can't just say your prayers and read your Bible and think that is the prescription for walking in the Supernatural. It doesn't work like that. God has to allow you to go through a period of Affliction and Suffering in order to prepare you for the weight you will have to carry in being a vessel of God's Kingdom Power. This is one of the reasons why a lot of Christians, including ministers, do not qualify to be anointed and activated with the Divine Power of God; they don't want to endure the suffering required to qualify. With all due respect, if spiritually speaking you are a "spiritual wimp", meaning you don't like to go through any pain and sacrifice for God, then don't expect to be used by God in the demonstration of the Supernatural. Mind you, it doesn't mean you won't be used, but God won't be able to use you as a carrier of His Glory. Sacrifice and Suffering is a prerequisite for walking in manifestation of the Kingdom Power of God.

This is what Paul was talking about in 2Corinthians 12 when he was explaining about his "thorn in the flesh". When he asked God three times to take it away, the Lord's response was, "My Grace is sufficient for thee, for My Power is made perfect in weakness" (2Corinthians 12, New International Version). This is the key to the Perfection of Power. God uses our weaknesses to magnify and perfect His Power and Glory within us. Not the weaknesses of our sins, not the flaws of our personality, but the weakness that is incurred when we're challenged to endure suffering for His Name's sake. This is why Paul goes on to say, "therefore I take pleasure in infirmities...in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake". Who do you know that takes "pleasure" in feeling pain? Who do you know that gets happy when they're stressed out and pressed upon because of the ministry? How many folks do you know that get a kick out of being talked about and persecuted when they've done absolutely nothing wrong? This my brothers and sisters is the key to the Perfection of Power. If you want the Divine Power of God resting upon your life and operating in your life, you're going to have to allow the Holy Spirit to transform your thinking, and instead of running from the pain and the stress of the Cross, learn to embrace it. For without it we won't receive The Perfection of Power.

The End of An Era

We are now half-way through the year 2016. The first six months have passed and we are roughly two weeks into the middle of July. With this in mind, I think it would be good for us to examine where we are in this unfolding year. As I look back at some of the events that have transpired in the first half of the year, my assessment is that we are approaching The End of An Era. Old things are passing away, and as a result, All things will Become New (2Corinthians 5). What strikes me most about 2016 are the "major transitions" that are taking place right before our very eyes. Peyton Manning, one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, retires. Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players of our generation, retires. Prince, one of the most talented and prolific musical artists of our time, dies. Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest boxers and global icons of our generation, dies. These are just a few examples of how, globally, there's a "changing of the guard". We need to recognize people, we're witnessing The End of An Era.

There are other examples too, but the reason why this is significant is because when you have The End of An Era, it suggests that you're on the verge of The Dawning of A New Day. You only close out one Era in order to commence a New One. This is what I'm seeing take place in America and throughout the world right before our very eyes. In a matter of months, presumably, the Obama Era will have expired. When Barack Obama is no longer President of the United States (if he indeed does step down in 2017), we will see A New Era for America, regardless of who gets elected. Also, don't diminish the significance of Great Britain pulling out of the European Union. That is a major transition for the economic and political landscape of Europe.

As we behold this transition of The End of An Era, we need to understand as the children of God what our Heavenly Father is up to. Remember, He is Sovereign, so nothing is happening without His Divine Permission. My faith is that what we are about to behold in the days to come is the ushering in of a Kingdom Revolution. I've said it over and over again; we are about to witness one of the Greatest Moves of God this planet has ever seen. And the way God generally works is that He takes away the first that He may establish the second (Hebrews 10). He allows the Old Order to be dismantled so that He can establish His Kingdom Order to replace it. This, my brothers and sisters, is what we need to be preparing for. If God is allowing "old things" to be dismantled in your life, if you feel like you've become the "victim" of "unwanted change", don't whine and complain to God about it, Rejoice. Why? Because He's allowing you to experience The End of An Era. And when one Era phases out, God sets the stage for The New Era to begin. I don't know about you but I'm excited. Aren't you ready for The New Wine? Aren't you ready for Transformation and Social Change? Aren't you ready for a Kingdom Movement that will bring about true Justice, Equality and Peace for our communities and our country? God is ready to release all of this in the earth. And for this reason I believe we are witnessing and experiencing The End of An Era.

Prepare for War

At the beginning of the year, a prophet of God shared with me what they were feeling in their spirit about the Year 2016. They said they felt like it would be a "Year of War". That word definitely seems to be coming to pass. When people are getting bombed at airports and shot to death at nightclubs in the name of terrorism, that is War. When you have innocent civilians being murdered by police, and then innocent police officers being murdered by civilians, that is Social War. So yes, whether we are willing to admit it or not, this country and this nation is in a Time of War. As a result, what we need to do now as believers in Christ is Prepare for War.

As Christians and children of God, we need to understand that the Warfare for which we are called to engage is not in the Natural. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2Corinthians 10), so we don't have to worry about guns and rifles and other objects that are designed to cause bodily harm. No saints, our warfare is Spiritual (Ephesians 6). Once the church learns how to effectively operate in Spiritual Warfare, a lot of the chaos that we're witnessing in the Natural will cease. The challenge right now is Preparation. We must Prepare for the War for which we've been called to engage.

The first order of Preparation for War is to arm oneself with a Mentality to Fight. The Passivity and Indifference that's present in the church is alarming. Everybody has something to say about the brutality and injustices that are taking place in our world, but where is the voice of the church? As the people of God, we can no longer afford to hide in the background and just stay put in the sanctuary singing our hymns and preaching our sermons. We are the light of the world, we are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5). It's up to us to make the Difference for what's going on in our society. But in order to make the Difference, we've got to Fight. The scripture says to "fight the good fight of faith" (1Timothy 6). Where is our faith in God? Where's the stand of the church to let the world know that Violence and Bigotry and Hatred and Racism is wrong and not of God. It's almost like people are scared to bring the faith equation into the discussion of the unraveling of our country. But until this country turns "back" to God, this nation will continue to spiral out of control. We must take a stand and fight for the faith and the Voice of God in and for this country.

Then saints, in order to properly Prepare for War, we must stay Focused and Disciplined. The scripture says, "no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2Timothy 2). In order to be a soldier of Christ and fight for the advancement of the Kingdom of God, you cannot afford to be tangled up in the affairs of this world. We're not talking about not going to work, not having a job, not having a family, not having a social life; that's not what we're talking about. Not being entangled with the affairs of this life means that there's nothing in your life that comes before or above your Devotion to Christ and the fulfillment of His Will and Purpose for your life. Nothing's wrong with having a career, but does your career come before Christ? It's a blessing to have a family, but does your family come before the execution of God's Will and Purpose for your life? This is where the witness of the church is being diminished; we want to be a part of the world in the "name" of being a Christian. It doesn't work that way. God has called us "out" of the world (John 17). Why? So that we can be Agents of Change for the world. America needs a Change, as President Obama said when he campaigned for the presidency in 2008. But as we've painfully seen, the change isn't going to come from the Government. The change isn't going to come from a social organization. The change isn't going to come from protests and retaliation. Change has to come from God. But the only way that Change can be manifested in the earth is through the witness of the church. It's Change that we must fight for, and in order to do that effectively, we must Prepare for War.

Vain Worship

Could going to church on Sunday morning actually be in vain? I'd like to think not, but according to the Word of God, it very well could be. In the 7th chapter of the Gospel of Saint Mark, Jesus calls out the Pharisees and essentially tells them that their worship is in vain. It makes me ask the question, is that what Jesus is saying about the church today; that our worship is in vain? For years many of us have faithfully and diligently attended worship services at our local congregation, in the name of worshiping the Lord. But I am persuaded saints that what a lot of churches are doing around the country on Sunday mornings is nothing more than Vain Worship.

Let's take a look at some of the challenges Jesus had with the Pharisees that led Him to describe their worship as vain. First off, He called them out for their Hypocrisy. The Pharisees were hypocrites. What is a hypocrite? The popular answer is one who says one thing and then does another. This is incorrect. The accurate definition of a hypocrite is one who uses one standard to judge themselves and then uses another standard to judge others. That is hypocritical. So if I drink (alcohol) and then I say that drinking is wrong, that doesn't make me a hypocrite. What makes me a hypocrite is if I condemn you for drinking alcohol while excusing or justifying myself while drinking alcohol. This is hypocritical, and this is where the modern day church is. The world doesn't have a problem with Christians sinning. Jesus died for our sins (John 3); so that's not the problem. The problem that the world has with the church is our inconsistency. In other words, don't be condemning me, sending me to hell, when you're doing the exact same things that I'm doing. This is the position of the world against the witness of the church. And instead of us confessing that we're sinners just like them but that the difference is that we have a Savior who has died for our sins and forgiven us for our trespasses, we just try to "act better". Wrong. We have to quit being hypocritical, if don't want our worship to be in vain.

Lastly, Jesus called the Pharisees out on something that the mainstream church is definitely guilty of: they made their traditions and rituals the equivalent of the Commandments and Will of God. This, I believe, has really upset the Lord. In the church, we've put emphasis and focus on things that literally have nothing to do with the Divine Will of God. What difference does it make what denomination you are? What difference does it make what you wear to church (as long as it's decent and in order, 1Corinthians 14)? Who came up with all of these boards and committees and councils? All of these "traditions" have churches put together and convinced people that if you don't abide by these religious rituals then you're really not saved and you're not a "true" Christian. This is not the Will of God. God looks on the heart, not the outer man (1Samuel 16). And in the days to come, we're going to see plenty of "church leaders" who look good on the outside and know the right things to say but their hearts are not with God (Mark 7). Saints, it's time to do a Heart Check. Check and see where your heart really is with God. Are you going to church because that's what you've done all of your life, or are you going seeking a deeper relationship with God? Are you going to church because it's the "right thing to do" or are you going because you're looking to answer God's Kingdom Call for your life? Let us make sure that our motives for going to church do not make us victims of Vain Worship.

Where is the Justice?

It's a sad day in the United States of America. We mourn the loss of Alton Sterling, victim of a police shooting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We mourn the loss of Philando Castile, victim of a police shooting in St. Paul, Minnesota. And we grieve for the injured and slain police officers in the sniper shooting in Dallas, Texas. It has been a horrific week of senseless killings in America. As we mourn the loss of these men, I ask one simple question: Where's the Justice? Alton Sterling and Philando Castile were two African-American men who (based on the video footage and limited eye witness reports) did not deserve to die at the hands of the police officers who killed them. Then you have to raise the Justice question for the police officers who got shot and killed in Dallas. As far as we know, they didn't do anything wrong. We definitely know they had nothing to do with the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile; therefore they didn't deserve to be shot at and killed in the midst of a "peaceful" protest march. So once again, Where Is the Justice?

Saints, whether what I'm about to say is "politically correct" or not, as the people of God, we need to know what time it is. What we are witnessing is the unfolding of the Judgment of God in America. I know people don't like to hear that, even in the church, but the truth is the Light. We are witnessing the Judgment of God in America; and let me assure you, unless and until America repents, it's not going to get better, it's actually going to get worse. We need to recognize the Hand of God in the various events of tragedy that are unfolding in our nation.

Now let's try to put this in context. Am I saying that God is responsible for the deaths of the two African-American men and the police officers in Dallas? No I am not. So we ask the question again, Where is the Justice? The Justice (Judgment) System of God is different than man's. We tend to think of justice on an "individualized" basis. There is a place for that in the Economy of God, but that's not how He primarily operates when it comes to the Judgment (Justice) of a nation. God deals on the basis of what is called Federal Representation. The scriptures break this concept down in Romans chapter 5. No one dies strictly based upon their own sinfulness, we've inherited the sinfulness of Adam (Romans 5). And nobody is going to Heaven based on their own goodness; we're all going to Heaven based upon the Goodness of Jesus on our behalf (Justification, Romans 5). So you see that the Justice (Judgment) of God is not contingent strictly upon the sins of the individual, it's who the individual is associated with and represented by. 

When it comes to the Judgment of nations the principle is similar. God is not just looking at what "individuals" do in reference to His Will, He's looking at Federal (or national) Representation. I've said it before and I want to say it again; one of the biggest mistakes this nation could've made was when we passed federal legislation for the national legalization of same-sex marriage. Whether people want to admit it or not or whether they understand it or not, that legal slap in God's Face brought about the Judgment of God on America. And you have to understand about the Judgment of God, it's not always swift, but it's always sure (Ecclesiastes 8). Therefore, more and more, you're going to see more incidents of this nature (don't forget Orlando, Florida). So what's the remedy? America has to repent, starting with the President of the United States. Don't be surprised if you start to hear problems with President Obama. Yes, we sympathize, but we need to know what time it is.

Where is the Justice? Justice will be found amongst the people once we execute the Justice of God. Where's the Justice? We'll see civil justice restored when Divine Justice is restored to this nation and our society in regards to the Divine Will of God for this country. Where is the Justice? Justice will be restored in the streets when government officials and clergy and community leaders repent and say we were wrong about same-sex marriage, we were wrong about transgender rights, we submit to the Divine Will of God. When God receives the Justice He's due AS GOD, He will Providentially release the civil justice that everyone in this country is looking for.

The Divided States of America

We are currently witnessing a situation in our nation where we are actually living in a Divided Country. We are no longer the "United" States of America, we are the "Divided" States of America. This country is more Divided than I have ever seen it before. This Division is not restricted to politics. We're Divided racially, we're divided economically, we're divided morally, we're divided spiritually and yes we are divided politically. Differences and challenges are nothing new to America. We've always had racism, we've always had sexism, we've always had liberals and conservatives; but this is different. The source of the Division that we're experiencing in our country right now is rooted in the fact that America has no fundamental value system, and as a result there is a lack of social cohesion that creates a sense of national unity. We are truly like the Book of Judges, "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21). As a result, we have a very fractured and divided nation. This is something that needs to be addressed and that the church needs to respond to.

The reason I say that this is a problem for which the church needs to attend to is because the solution to the dilemma is quite simple. America needs GOD. I know this may sound oversimplistic, but it's the truth. One of the things that many American citizens have forgotten, particularly our leaders, is that America was founded as a Christian nation. Yes, America has had its flaws historically, but in regards to the basis and premise of the founding of this country, it was based on a belief in God and the truth of His Word. For this reason, God Blessed America. One of the reasons that this is so significant is because belief in God through faith in Jesus Christ gives you clear parameters between what is Right and what is Wrong. This no longer exists in America. And if America is going to be great again (to use one politician's slogan) then we're going to have to reestablish our faith in God as a country and as a people.

In order for this Shift to take place, the church needs to sound a clarion call to America to Repent. We can't make a Call to National Repentance in a spirit of being judgmental, we have to do it in a Spirit of Love. One of the things that I find quite appalling about America right now is the level of Indifference towards the needs and concerns of people and our communities. It seems like people just don't care; including the church. Everybody is obsessed with taking care of "me, myself and I". This is not the Will of God. We have to let Americans know that there is a God who cares about their plight. There is a God who cares about their unemployment and them not having enough money to take care of their families. We need to let Americans know that there is a God who cares about the fear factor that is prevalent in so many of our communities, including the suburbs. We need to let Americans know that the God who sits above, who gave His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins, does care about the threat of Terror that is pulverizing this nation. It's up to the church to be the Light of this country and the Salt of this nation. And if we don't rise up and be the witness to America that Christ is calling His Church to be, we're going to continue to live in a Divided States of America.

Stay Close

We are entering a season saints, where it is imperative that we learn to Stay Close to the Lord. Now is not the time to be wandering off from the Lord. Now is not the time to get lost in "spiritual delinquency". Now is not the time to "shirk" on your spiritual devotion. Now, more than ever before, is the time to Stay Close. Notice I didn't say "stay committed", I said Stay Close. There is a difference between being committed to God and being Close to God. There are many of us that are committed to our churches, committed to the ministry, even committed to the Lord; but that doesn't necessarily mean that we are Close to the Lord. A good example is some marriages. You have people that are committed to their spouse; they come home every night, they pay the bills, they fix the food and their faithful to the fidelity vows of the marriage. But unfortunately, all of this does not guarantee that the two are "close"; emotionally, relationally, mentally and sometimes even physically. So, we're not just talking about commitment, in terms of our relationship with God, we need to Stay Close.

The reason why we need to do this is because the church and the world are getting ready to go through some perilous times. I believe in many of our congregations and eventually throughout this country, we're going to experience some things that many of us have never experienced in our lifetime. It's going to be Crisis in an immense proportion. Therefore, the only way we're going to be able to make it is if we Stay Close to the Lord. Your commitment and faithfulness to the ministry won't be enough. Your moral lifestyle won't be enough. Even your gifts and anointing won't be enough. You will have to have established in your heart, soul and spirit and Intimacy with Christ that will take you through any storm that life sends your way. And believe me saints, the storm is coming. This type of Intimacy and Closeness with Christ can't just be developed over night. And you won't have time to nurture it once the trouble hits and the storm comes. It has to already be established. That's like trying to build a house in the midst of a hurricane. The conditions won't allow you to do it. The house has to have already been built before the storm arrives. So it will be with our closeness to the Lord.

A good example of this is the Apostle Peter. If anyone was committed to the Lord it was Peter. God gave him the revelation of who Jesus was as the Christ, and subsequently gave him the Keys of the Kingdom (Matthew 16). So we know that Peter was a dedicated and committed Disciple of Christ. But he exhibited one flaw, he didn't Stay Close. When the Pharisees and Sadducees came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the scripture says that Peter deserted him and later denied him (Luke 22). Of course Peter put up a good fight in the Garden (John 18), but after his flesh response was insufficient to sustain his loyalty to Jesus, he fled just like the rest of the disciples. Why? Because he didn't Stay Close. Jesus told Peter, James and John to pray in the Garden with Him as prepared for His Crucifixion (Mark 14). And what did they do? Went to sleep! Then Jesus says what, "watch and pray" (Mark 14). In other words, Stay Close! The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Mark 14). The pressure of the moment got to all of them, even Peter. And it will get the best of us as well if we don't Stay Close.

Let The Judgment Begin

I am thoroughly convinced that the Judgment that God has been withholding is about to be released by the end of this year. There are a lot of signs of this with the various world tragedies and the deaths of many world icons. But saints more than anything else, It's Time. God is ready to release His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven; and in order to do that, there must be a Release of Divine Judgment in order to usher in the New of His Kingdom. Let us remember, Judgment is not the equivalent of Punishment. So many times, this is the automatic connotation that is drawn. That is incorrect. Judgment is Deliberation and Evaluation. That's what God is ready to do now; He's ready to give everybody their "grade" in regards to how He has Divinely Assessed our faithfulness and commitment to Him. Therefore, Let The Judgment Begin.

We must keep in mind that before we see what could be described as "National Judgment" (the Divine Judgment of God on America) we're going to see the Judgment of God in the church. The Bible clearly states that Judgment must start in the house of God (1Peter 4). For this reason, you're going to see the exposure and in some cases the promotion of various men and women of God in the world of Christendom. For some this will be a time of rejoicing; for others it will be a source of profound disappointment. But remember what the Word says, be not deceived God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap (Galatians 6). That's why we would do well to heed what the scriptures say, "for if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (1Corinthians 11). I would encourage every believer in Christ to take this season to do a true "self-examination". Let the Lord turn the light on your heart and examine whether you are Holy: in body, in soul, and in spirit. The scriptures say that we should be holy because God is Holy (1Peter 1). Once again, this is not the time to be delinquent and irresponsible in regards to our relationship with God and the execution of His Divine Will for our lives. Let the Judgment Begin.

The word judgment comes from the Greek word "krisis", which is where we get the English word Crisis. This is what you're going to see in many churches, ministries and eventually our nation. When you start to hear of various crises taking place in various churches "all of a sudden" and "seemingly out of nowhere", know that it's not an arbitrary event, it is the hand of God. So many times when Crisis hits, we get lost in the emotion and sorrow of the event. No saints. We have to be more spiritually mature. I'm not saying to be indifferent, cold-hearted and apathetic. I'm saying, make sure we're paying attention to what God is saying in His allowing the event to transpire. It's an act of Divine Judgment. Not Punishment, Judgment. For what? For Repentance for the New Order. If you're already in Alignment with God, if you've made the necessary adjustments that the Spirit has called you to make, then Crisis (Judgment) won't adversely affect you, by the Grace of God. But for those who are still "playing with God", for those whose spiritual temperature is still "lukewarm" (Revelation 3), in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "you've got some difficult days ahead". But understand what God is doing. He's got to purge the church through Judgment, so that when Judgment hits America, we'll be in a place to serve as the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Matthew 5). God's Judgment is an Act of Redemption, set to usher in one of the greatest (if not the greatest) Moves of God the earth has ever seen. So, Let The Judgment Begin.

Kingdom Fitness

In the days ahead, we're going to see that everybody who professes to be a Christian, is not fit for the Kingdom of God. We're going to discover rather rapidly that being a member of the church (even a faithful one) does not necessarily qualify you to operate and function in the Kingdom of God. Just like we emphasize and promote "physical fitness", from a spiritual perspective, we now need to promote Kingdom Fitness. Let me reiterate, everyone who names the name of Christ is not fit for the Kingdom of God. Therefore I ask the question, are you Fit for the Kingdom of God: spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically? If not, then now is the time to get into Kingdom Fitness.

One of the things that the church at large is going to have to embrace is that you cannot demonstrate Kingdom Fitness while indulging in the works of the flesh. The scripture says very clearly, "now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness...and such like: of the which I tell you before as I have told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God" (Galatians 5). Many people misinterpret this text to mean that those who engage in the works of the flesh will not go to heaven when they die. This is not what the scripture says and is an "anti-Grace" message (Galatians 2). It means that in regards to ruling with Christ and having the Kingdom of God established within you (Romans 8, Luke 17), you are disqualified from such if you indulge in the works of the flesh. Reason being is that you can't exercise Kingdom Fitness having an attitude and disposition that is self-centered and self-absorbed. Regardless of the area of flesh one looks at, even the affections of the flesh, it's not just about sin but more about self. If you're not allowing the Holy Spirit to establish within you a heart of selflessness, you have yet to reach Kingdom Fitness.

The other requirement for Kingdom Fitness is Focus. Jesus says, "no man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9). Earlier this year I received a prophetic word where the Lord told me specifically "do not Look Back". This is the challenge for many believers. Yes we want the things that God has promised and ordained for us, but there's also a part of us that wants to hold on to the past. Past dreams, past relationships, past associations, past affiliations, past memories, past hopes, past endeavors, past activities...we don't want to let go. But saints, you can't move forward in the Kingdom continuing to look back towards your past. This is the time where you have to undergo a spiritual operation and let the Holy Ghost give you a dose of "spiritual amnesia". We must learn to be like Paul, "forgetting those things which are behind" (Philippians 3). It's a New Day saints, and God is doing a New Thing. Old things truly have passed away. Therefore, put away the Old and get with the New. It's the only way to achieve Kingdom Fitness.