Saints, all of us have a decision to make. We are literally one month away from the beginning of the New Year on the Hebrew Calendar. I can assure you, as we go into the Fall of 2015, there are some things that God is going to do in this country that are going to Shake Up America. Remember however, that Judgment starts first in the House of God (1Peter 4). Therefore, there are some things that God is going to address in His Church as He prepares to address certain things in His country. With this in mind, as believers in Christ, we have to make a decision as God prepares to move in America in a way I don't believe we've ever seen before. Are we going to settle for Comfort, or are we preparing to Bear our Cross?
Many of you, I'm sure, are familiar with the phrase "comfort zone". This is the area of familiarity and functionality that most people like to operate in because it represents the most comfort and security for them. Their knowledge of what to expect and what's expected of them, allows them to operate in what can be described as their "comfort zone". Saints, I want to put you on alert; God is calling the church out of her "comfort zone". God no longer wants us to feel "comfortable". You wonder why it's been so hard for you lately? You're wondering why God is allowing you to experience this struggle that you're going through. Let me answer it for you in a very succinct manner; He's calling you out of your Comfort Zone. Most of the believers that I'm talking to these days are going through some type of struggle right now. Even though they know God is Faithful and has not left them, the question still arises, where is God? And if not "where is God", then, why God? All of these questions are legitimate, but understand what the Lord is doing. He's breaking you out of your comfort zone.
With this in mind, what the Lord is doing is conditioning you to Bear your Cross. Jesus told us to bear our cross daily (Luke 9). That's why it feels like a daily grind. God is allowing this with Divine Intentionality. What you're experiencing is not arbitrary. God operates with Specific Intent when it comes to the affairs of His children and His chosen. My pastor preached a sermon years ago entitled, "Tough Equipment for a Rough Assignment". God's not looking for spiritual civilians, He's looking for Soldiers. He's building an Army. And when you're in the armed services, they train you for Battle. God as Commander-in-Chief, is no different.
But at the end of the day, the choice is still ours. God's not going to "force us" to bear our cross. And I suspect that there are some of us that want to resort to our "old ways". Can I just feel good for a moment? No you cannot. What did Jesus say? "No man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9). It's Training Season saints. Let the Holy Spirit get you in Spiritual Fitness for the Manifestation of the Kingdom of God. I know it's rough right now; but don't look back! Don't turn back to comfort. Don't turn back to convenience. Deny yourself. Bear your Cross. Endure that pain. Suffer those hardships. If you continue to endure (Hebrews 6), you'll discover that the Reward of the Cross always trumps the convenience of comfort.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Saturday, August 15, 2015
The Source of Fulfillment
One of the dilemmas that plagues our society, including the church, is the challenge of dealing with Voids. It's rare that you meet an individual, saved or unsaved, that isn't dealing with some sort of deficit or deficiency in their life. We've learned very well how to "cover things up" and "act" like everything's ok. But at the end of the day, many of us are still very miserable and empty on the inside. This is not the Will of God, for Christians and non-Christians alike. God wants His people to be happy, fulfilled and Blessed (3John). He wants us to be prosperous and joyful, not sad, depressed and despondent. However, in order to experience the happiness that all of us want to achieve, we must learn to believe that Christ truly is the Source of Fulfillment.
Many people have voids that they're dealing with emotionally and relationally. It's rare these days to meet an individual that isn't working through some sort of issues with their parents or family members. If one is not wrestling with internal family issues, then more than likely there's some sort of emotional scar or wound that has remained a secret for years that has yet to be acknowledged to others. Saints, we can no longer walk around like "everything is fine". No. As my pastor used to say years ago, we have to learn how to say "ouch". Too many of us are in denial, to ourselves, about the extent of the pain and the hurt that we've been challenged to endure over the span of our lifetime. Not acknowledging it doesn't help. Trying to "tough it out" isn't effective either. This just makes it build up on the inside, and not only sponsors mental health issues, but also physiological and biological health concerns as well. We need to be real about the fact that we're hurting and some things in life just don't seem right nor fair. If we continue to operate in self-denial (denial of the truth), then we're going to continue to perpetuate the dysfunctional patterns that we've adopted to cope with these voids. This pattern of dysfunction is not of God.
Jesus said in the 8th chapter of the Gospel of Saint John, "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free". Once we tell the truth about our problems and our pain, we'll then be in position to receive the Truth. The Truth of any situation that you're facing internally, emotionally or relationally, is that Jesus is the Answer. I know that sounds like a cliche, but it's the Truth. The reason it sounds like a cliche is because we don't give the practical application to back up it's accuracy. Christ is the Source of all Fulfillment. Do you understand that there are some issues and some challenges that God has allowed in your life, just to prove to you that His Son is the Answer? (Romans 8) Why do you think that the Lord "allowed" humanity through Adam to fall into sin? So that He could show that His Eternal Love through His Son was the Answer for a lost humanity. And He's still the Answer. I would encourage you to take your pain and to take your hurts to Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to give you Revelation and Divine Direction on what to do to fill those voids. Now let me share with you on the front end, and this is where most people mess up; what God's going to show you is not what you're going to want to hear, and what He tells you to do is not what you're going to want to do (Isaiah 55). But that is why we walk by faith and not by sight (2Corinthians 5). Let us trust in the Lord, submit our voids to Him, and witness the reality that Christ is indeed The Source of Fulfillment.
Many people have voids that they're dealing with emotionally and relationally. It's rare these days to meet an individual that isn't working through some sort of issues with their parents or family members. If one is not wrestling with internal family issues, then more than likely there's some sort of emotional scar or wound that has remained a secret for years that has yet to be acknowledged to others. Saints, we can no longer walk around like "everything is fine". No. As my pastor used to say years ago, we have to learn how to say "ouch". Too many of us are in denial, to ourselves, about the extent of the pain and the hurt that we've been challenged to endure over the span of our lifetime. Not acknowledging it doesn't help. Trying to "tough it out" isn't effective either. This just makes it build up on the inside, and not only sponsors mental health issues, but also physiological and biological health concerns as well. We need to be real about the fact that we're hurting and some things in life just don't seem right nor fair. If we continue to operate in self-denial (denial of the truth), then we're going to continue to perpetuate the dysfunctional patterns that we've adopted to cope with these voids. This pattern of dysfunction is not of God.
Jesus said in the 8th chapter of the Gospel of Saint John, "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free". Once we tell the truth about our problems and our pain, we'll then be in position to receive the Truth. The Truth of any situation that you're facing internally, emotionally or relationally, is that Jesus is the Answer. I know that sounds like a cliche, but it's the Truth. The reason it sounds like a cliche is because we don't give the practical application to back up it's accuracy. Christ is the Source of all Fulfillment. Do you understand that there are some issues and some challenges that God has allowed in your life, just to prove to you that His Son is the Answer? (Romans 8) Why do you think that the Lord "allowed" humanity through Adam to fall into sin? So that He could show that His Eternal Love through His Son was the Answer for a lost humanity. And He's still the Answer. I would encourage you to take your pain and to take your hurts to Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to give you Revelation and Divine Direction on what to do to fill those voids. Now let me share with you on the front end, and this is where most people mess up; what God's going to show you is not what you're going to want to hear, and what He tells you to do is not what you're going to want to do (Isaiah 55). But that is why we walk by faith and not by sight (2Corinthians 5). Let us trust in the Lord, submit our voids to Him, and witness the reality that Christ is indeed The Source of Fulfillment.
Friday, August 14, 2015
The Reward of Endurance
As I continue to talk to the saints, the feedback that I receive is that many believers are still tired. God is Faithful, so it sounds like some of the soldiers are getting a "second wind" if you will; but things are still hard. But I want to encourage you saints that Promotion Time is coming. As we prepare to go into the last month of the Hebrew Calendar, the New Year going into September of 2015 will be one that I don't think any of us will forget. God has blessings, miracles, breakthroughs, rewards, promotions and gifts for all of His children who have chosen to be Faithful and Obedient to Him during this very trying season. For this reason I want to encourage you with the Reward of Endurance.
As I've stated on several occasions, the key to this Season is Endurance. One prophet received a word from the Lord that described it as Perseverance. For the next 4 weeks, it is imperative that you hang in there. Whatever lessons God has chosen to teach you during this Season, hold onto them. Whatever Revelation that He has chosen to impart, receive it and internalize it. You've got to "hold that fast" which the Lord has given unto you (Revelation 3). Part of the reason this is necessary is because the Lessons that you've been taught over the last several years and in many cases over the last several months, are going to be critical during the Season we're about to embark upon going into September and the rest of the Fall of 2015. However, we also want to keep in mind that there is a Divine Reward awaiting all of those who have been Faithful to the Lord and have "endured" unto the end.
The God we serve is a God of Reward. We don't often (or at least often enough) think of Him in these terms, but we need to. You're not just "working" for nothing (Matthew 20). God has a Reward and a Promotion in store for you. But you must Endure. The Reward of Endurance is the entrance into a whole nother Dimension in God. One of the fallacies of our faith is that we're always looking for God to reward us in the Natural. Yes, He can do that, and He will; but that's not the true Reward. When you remain Faithful unto the Father, He doesn't just reward you with temporal gifts, He rewards you with the Gift of Himself. This is where the witness of the church has fallen grossly short. There's a Dimension of Reality in God and in Christ that far exceeds any amount of money or personal pleasure that you can experience here on earth (Psalm 16). The "natural" man is not going to understand this, but the spiritual man is "supposed" to; and God expects His children to reach for this Reward (Philippians 3). Hebrews chapter 12 says that, "for the Joy that was set before Him, (Jesus) endured the Cross". Jesus didn't endure the Cross "just" to satisfy the Will of the Father (even though that was the primary Motivation). He did it because there was a Reward in store for Him. A Joy that He had not yet experienced as the Eternal Son of God. Can you believe that? There was a Greater Glory that Jesus was reaching for in Enduring the Cross. Hallelujah! And saints, there's a Greater Glory in the Spirit Realm that God has prepared for you that's literally going to blow your mind (Ephesians 3). It is indeed, the Reward of Endurance.
As I've stated on several occasions, the key to this Season is Endurance. One prophet received a word from the Lord that described it as Perseverance. For the next 4 weeks, it is imperative that you hang in there. Whatever lessons God has chosen to teach you during this Season, hold onto them. Whatever Revelation that He has chosen to impart, receive it and internalize it. You've got to "hold that fast" which the Lord has given unto you (Revelation 3). Part of the reason this is necessary is because the Lessons that you've been taught over the last several years and in many cases over the last several months, are going to be critical during the Season we're about to embark upon going into September and the rest of the Fall of 2015. However, we also want to keep in mind that there is a Divine Reward awaiting all of those who have been Faithful to the Lord and have "endured" unto the end.
The God we serve is a God of Reward. We don't often (or at least often enough) think of Him in these terms, but we need to. You're not just "working" for nothing (Matthew 20). God has a Reward and a Promotion in store for you. But you must Endure. The Reward of Endurance is the entrance into a whole nother Dimension in God. One of the fallacies of our faith is that we're always looking for God to reward us in the Natural. Yes, He can do that, and He will; but that's not the true Reward. When you remain Faithful unto the Father, He doesn't just reward you with temporal gifts, He rewards you with the Gift of Himself. This is where the witness of the church has fallen grossly short. There's a Dimension of Reality in God and in Christ that far exceeds any amount of money or personal pleasure that you can experience here on earth (Psalm 16). The "natural" man is not going to understand this, but the spiritual man is "supposed" to; and God expects His children to reach for this Reward (Philippians 3). Hebrews chapter 12 says that, "for the Joy that was set before Him, (Jesus) endured the Cross". Jesus didn't endure the Cross "just" to satisfy the Will of the Father (even though that was the primary Motivation). He did it because there was a Reward in store for Him. A Joy that He had not yet experienced as the Eternal Son of God. Can you believe that? There was a Greater Glory that Jesus was reaching for in Enduring the Cross. Hallelujah! And saints, there's a Greater Glory in the Spirit Realm that God has prepared for you that's literally going to blow your mind (Ephesians 3). It is indeed, the Reward of Endurance.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Revival v.s Resurrection
I was listening to a Woman of God this past weekend, and she said something that really pricked my spirit. She said that the church is waiting for "revival" when we should be looking for "Resurrection". It is rare that you will hear me refer to the Kingdom Movement that is about to hit our planet as "Revival". I choose not to use this terminology because I don't believe that what God is getting ready to do necessarily fits that description. No, God is getting ready to do something much greater than send a Revival, He's going to release Miracle Transformation. We're about to experience something in the earth that we've never experienced before. However, whether you experience Revival or Resurrection depends on how you're positioned in Christ.
There will be many believers that when God releases the Kingdom Movement of the 21st Century, will indeed be Revived. They will experience a new-found zeal for the Lord. They'll be excited about the wonderful things that God will be doing, in their lives and in the church as a whole. However, they won't experience Resurrection. How do I know this? Because in order to experience Resurrection, there must first be a Death. The reason why a lot of saints are so "tired" right now is because you're actually dying. Not necessarily in the Natural, but a spiritual death. All of us as children of God are called to die to self (Colossians 3). This is the only legitimate way that Christ can live through us (Colossians 1). However, this is not something Christ is going to force us to do. We have to willingly sacrifice our lives unto Him (Romans 12). It would stand to reason that this would be a "no-brainer" for all Christians, since Jesus willingly laid down His Life for us (John 10). But for many believers, this is a challenge, that isn't always successfully worked through. Yet the God we serve is a God of Patience. He will wait for us and give us space to repent (Revelation 2). But I can assure you, time is winding up.
If you want to experience the Resurrection Power of Jesus Christ as this Kingdom Movement commences, I strongly urge you to consecrate yourself and deny yourself like never before. Those areas in your life that you know are outside of the "Divine Will" of God, pray earnestly that God will deliver you, renew you, and transform you, so that you can be totally submitted to the will of God for your life. Take your relationship with God more seriously than you ever have before. Let the Holy Spirit work to make the "crooked places straight, and the rough places plain" (Isaiah 40). He's coming saints. The prophetic declaration has already been sounded, prepare for the Latter Rain. Now is not the time to be slack about your relationship with God. Now is not the time to "go with the flow". Now is the time to be diligent and sober. Gird up! (1Peter 1). As children of God we all have a Decision to make. When God releases His Kingdom Movement on the earth, will we experience Revival or Resurrection? The choice is completely yours.
There will be many believers that when God releases the Kingdom Movement of the 21st Century, will indeed be Revived. They will experience a new-found zeal for the Lord. They'll be excited about the wonderful things that God will be doing, in their lives and in the church as a whole. However, they won't experience Resurrection. How do I know this? Because in order to experience Resurrection, there must first be a Death. The reason why a lot of saints are so "tired" right now is because you're actually dying. Not necessarily in the Natural, but a spiritual death. All of us as children of God are called to die to self (Colossians 3). This is the only legitimate way that Christ can live through us (Colossians 1). However, this is not something Christ is going to force us to do. We have to willingly sacrifice our lives unto Him (Romans 12). It would stand to reason that this would be a "no-brainer" for all Christians, since Jesus willingly laid down His Life for us (John 10). But for many believers, this is a challenge, that isn't always successfully worked through. Yet the God we serve is a God of Patience. He will wait for us and give us space to repent (Revelation 2). But I can assure you, time is winding up.
If you want to experience the Resurrection Power of Jesus Christ as this Kingdom Movement commences, I strongly urge you to consecrate yourself and deny yourself like never before. Those areas in your life that you know are outside of the "Divine Will" of God, pray earnestly that God will deliver you, renew you, and transform you, so that you can be totally submitted to the will of God for your life. Take your relationship with God more seriously than you ever have before. Let the Holy Spirit work to make the "crooked places straight, and the rough places plain" (Isaiah 40). He's coming saints. The prophetic declaration has already been sounded, prepare for the Latter Rain. Now is not the time to be slack about your relationship with God. Now is not the time to "go with the flow". Now is the time to be diligent and sober. Gird up! (1Peter 1). As children of God we all have a Decision to make. When God releases His Kingdom Movement on the earth, will we experience Revival or Resurrection? The choice is completely yours.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
For God Still Loves the WORLD
One of the staple scriptures of Christianity is John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have Everlasting Life. This passage is foundational to our Salvation; noting that God loved humanity so much that He was willing to sacrifice His Only Begotten Son for the sins of the world. We give God all of the praise for the Greatest Act of Love this world has ever seen. Generally when we think about this text, we think of God's love for the world in the context of the church; those who are saved or those who are being saved. But saints, I'd like to remind us today that God still Loves THE WORLD. Yes He does. The same love that God had for the world over 2,000 years ago that allowed Him to sacrifice His Son, He still has that same love for the world. Not just the church, THE WORLD.
Why is this important? Because I constantly get the impression that the church is trying to get as far away from the world as we possibly can. I suspect we do this in part to try not to be too "worldly" from a sinful and carnal standpoint. Then we use the scripture that Jesus quoted in John 17, "they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world". All of these things are true. But there's a major oversight that we have that is drastically affecting our Witness; God loves the world. Yes saints, we need to quit putting John 3:16 in a strictly salvific context. We need to understand that today, in 2015, God loves THE WORLD; and all that are in it. God still loves THE WORLD.
The reason this needs to be stressed is because the Kingdom Movement is not designed primarily for the church; it's designed primarily for The World. Whenever God is ready to release a Kingdom Movement, you'll notice that the primary effect is upon the world. Do you need some proof? When God called Moses to serve as the leader of the Egyptian Freedom Movement on behalf of the children of Israel, where did that Movement take place? In Egypt, which represents what? THE WORLD. The Judgments, the Miracles, the Signs and Wonders, they were all performed in front of Pharaoh, who was the King of Egypt; once again, THE WORLD. When you look at the Book of Acts, the scripture says that the apostles turned "what" upside down, Judaism? No, it says THE WORLD (Acts 17).
So the question becomes, how are we going to participate in a Kingdom Movement of God if we're not committed to operating in the world? We've got to get into the streets saints. We've got to get into the marketplace. We've got to get into the neighborhoods. Some of us spend too much time in "church"; particularly us preachers. It's time to hit the pavement. Yes, Jesus spent a significant amount of time in the synagogues and in the Temple. But the main thrust of His Ministry was reaching the world. This is our job as His Body. The unsaved, the unchurched, the unbelievers, they're not going to be found in our sanctuaries on Sunday Morning. If we're going to reach them and spead the Gospel of the Kingdom, we have to reach them where they are. Because God still loves THE WORLD.
Why is this important? Because I constantly get the impression that the church is trying to get as far away from the world as we possibly can. I suspect we do this in part to try not to be too "worldly" from a sinful and carnal standpoint. Then we use the scripture that Jesus quoted in John 17, "they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world". All of these things are true. But there's a major oversight that we have that is drastically affecting our Witness; God loves the world. Yes saints, we need to quit putting John 3:16 in a strictly salvific context. We need to understand that today, in 2015, God loves THE WORLD; and all that are in it. God still loves THE WORLD.
The reason this needs to be stressed is because the Kingdom Movement is not designed primarily for the church; it's designed primarily for The World. Whenever God is ready to release a Kingdom Movement, you'll notice that the primary effect is upon the world. Do you need some proof? When God called Moses to serve as the leader of the Egyptian Freedom Movement on behalf of the children of Israel, where did that Movement take place? In Egypt, which represents what? THE WORLD. The Judgments, the Miracles, the Signs and Wonders, they were all performed in front of Pharaoh, who was the King of Egypt; once again, THE WORLD. When you look at the Book of Acts, the scripture says that the apostles turned "what" upside down, Judaism? No, it says THE WORLD (Acts 17).
So the question becomes, how are we going to participate in a Kingdom Movement of God if we're not committed to operating in the world? We've got to get into the streets saints. We've got to get into the marketplace. We've got to get into the neighborhoods. Some of us spend too much time in "church"; particularly us preachers. It's time to hit the pavement. Yes, Jesus spent a significant amount of time in the synagogues and in the Temple. But the main thrust of His Ministry was reaching the world. This is our job as His Body. The unsaved, the unchurched, the unbelievers, they're not going to be found in our sanctuaries on Sunday Morning. If we're going to reach them and spead the Gospel of the Kingdom, we have to reach them where they are. Because God still loves THE WORLD.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Integrity
One of the things that is lacking, unfortunately, in our country and even in many of our churches, is a spirit of Integrity. This is a word that you don't hear used often these days, but it's still a big priority with God. If people expect to be blessed, and if this country expects to be blessed, then we must learn to operate and function within a spirit of Integrity. Integrity doesn't mean you're going to always do the right thing (Romans 3). It doesn't mean you're faultless. But what it does mean is that there's a certain character and approach that you take to life, dealing with others, and most importantly, how you choose to relate to God. If a person or a nation does not operate with Integrity, then everything else is negotiable and basically unstable.
What is Integrity? There are multiple definitions one could use. But the one I would like to propose today is having a basic standard of values and ethics for which one's behavior and attitude is regulated. When you're operating in Integrity, there's a Moral Code for which you operate, even if you don't perfectly keep it. You're not operating by the philosophy of "anything goes". No. There are certain values and beliefs that regulate and determine what you do and why you do it. America has gotten away from that. And so have many of our churches. We've been swept away by popular culture, which says, if everybody's doing it, then it must be alright. No, that's all wrong. Our conduct and behavior can't be regulated by "the crowd". No my friends. There's no Integrity in that. That's part of the problem right now with the mainstream church. We won't take a stand against same-sex marriage because "the majority of Americans" think it's ok. So what! Does God think it's ok? That's a question of Integrity. Integrity says, I must be true to the values and beliefs that I have adopted, whether they go along with the majority or the crowd or not. We must re-establish a Standard for our churches and for our Nation (Isaiah 59).
When you're operating in Integrity, when you mess up (and you will), you own up to it and acknowledge that what you did was wrong. Once again, people sometimes think that operating with Integrity means that you're immune from making mistakes or doing something that's wrong. This is incorrect. Everybody makes mistakes and is prone to human error. The distinction with Integrity is that you acknowledge that you're wrong and you admit your mistake. Why is this Integrity? Because you never put yourself above the Standard that you've adopted and identified with to set the tone for your character. This is where the Witness of the church gets lost so many times. People in the world would have more respect for the church if we would just admit that we're wrong just like them. The world and the unchurched, by and large, doesn't have a problem with the message that we promote; their problem is when they see us deviate from that message and then still want to condemn them for "being sinners". There's no Integrity in that. The beautiful thing about Grace is that we can confess our sins, knowing that we have an Advocate with the Father (1John 1). So we don't "have" to "cover up". We don't have to "pretend" like we're something or someone that we're not. That doesn't mean we're condoning the wrong that we may be involved in, but we have the Integrity to say that we're not living up to the Standard that the Lord has set for His children. That's Integrity.
The Standard for the Body of Christ that establishes the Integrity for the church is the Word of God. Bottom line is, if the Word says it, that settles it. Now mind you, I know there are different "interpretations" of certain things in the Word, and sometimes things are taken out of context. But some things are just basic. Sex outside of marriage, fornication, is wrong. Homosexuality, two people of the same sex being romantically involved, is wrong. Lying, not telling the truth, is wrong. Same-sex marriage, two people of the same sex being married, is wrong. The only reason I'm listing these particular sins is because our society has reached a point where a lot of these things are normal. And because America no longer operates by the Standard of the Word and Will of God, a lot of people, including people in the church, think that some of these things are ok. Wrong! If it's against the Word and Will of God, it's not ok. And the church has got to start saying that! "Our" Integrity is on the line. What is the church going to stand for? When are we going to speak up and say Enough Is Enough. No, we won't be perfect, and no we won't be right all the time. But we can at least be a church that when God is looking for a Voice to represent Him in the earth, He doesn't have to look far to find a church with Integrity.
What is Integrity? There are multiple definitions one could use. But the one I would like to propose today is having a basic standard of values and ethics for which one's behavior and attitude is regulated. When you're operating in Integrity, there's a Moral Code for which you operate, even if you don't perfectly keep it. You're not operating by the philosophy of "anything goes". No. There are certain values and beliefs that regulate and determine what you do and why you do it. America has gotten away from that. And so have many of our churches. We've been swept away by popular culture, which says, if everybody's doing it, then it must be alright. No, that's all wrong. Our conduct and behavior can't be regulated by "the crowd". No my friends. There's no Integrity in that. That's part of the problem right now with the mainstream church. We won't take a stand against same-sex marriage because "the majority of Americans" think it's ok. So what! Does God think it's ok? That's a question of Integrity. Integrity says, I must be true to the values and beliefs that I have adopted, whether they go along with the majority or the crowd or not. We must re-establish a Standard for our churches and for our Nation (Isaiah 59).
When you're operating in Integrity, when you mess up (and you will), you own up to it and acknowledge that what you did was wrong. Once again, people sometimes think that operating with Integrity means that you're immune from making mistakes or doing something that's wrong. This is incorrect. Everybody makes mistakes and is prone to human error. The distinction with Integrity is that you acknowledge that you're wrong and you admit your mistake. Why is this Integrity? Because you never put yourself above the Standard that you've adopted and identified with to set the tone for your character. This is where the Witness of the church gets lost so many times. People in the world would have more respect for the church if we would just admit that we're wrong just like them. The world and the unchurched, by and large, doesn't have a problem with the message that we promote; their problem is when they see us deviate from that message and then still want to condemn them for "being sinners". There's no Integrity in that. The beautiful thing about Grace is that we can confess our sins, knowing that we have an Advocate with the Father (1John 1). So we don't "have" to "cover up". We don't have to "pretend" like we're something or someone that we're not. That doesn't mean we're condoning the wrong that we may be involved in, but we have the Integrity to say that we're not living up to the Standard that the Lord has set for His children. That's Integrity.
The Standard for the Body of Christ that establishes the Integrity for the church is the Word of God. Bottom line is, if the Word says it, that settles it. Now mind you, I know there are different "interpretations" of certain things in the Word, and sometimes things are taken out of context. But some things are just basic. Sex outside of marriage, fornication, is wrong. Homosexuality, two people of the same sex being romantically involved, is wrong. Lying, not telling the truth, is wrong. Same-sex marriage, two people of the same sex being married, is wrong. The only reason I'm listing these particular sins is because our society has reached a point where a lot of these things are normal. And because America no longer operates by the Standard of the Word and Will of God, a lot of people, including people in the church, think that some of these things are ok. Wrong! If it's against the Word and Will of God, it's not ok. And the church has got to start saying that! "Our" Integrity is on the line. What is the church going to stand for? When are we going to speak up and say Enough Is Enough. No, we won't be perfect, and no we won't be right all the time. But we can at least be a church that when God is looking for a Voice to represent Him in the earth, He doesn't have to look far to find a church with Integrity.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Waiting for your Season
If you've been one who has been pressing into the will of God for this Season, then you know that a big part of the Lesson that God has been teaching His people is Waiting. Many of the saints are tired, and about ready to throw in the towel. But saints, trust me when I tell you, that is the last thing that you want to do. God is ready to Turn things Around in a very Supernatural way. He's getting ready to do things that many of us have never seen done before (1Corinthians 2). Therefore, what we're challenged to continue to do is to Wait on the Lord (Psalm 37). However, we want to know exactly what we're waiting for, and what we need to be waiting on the Lord for is our Season.
The God we serve is a God of Timing. When it looks like He's acting arbitrarily, this is far from the case. God is a God of Timing and Specificity. So what we want to learn to do in Waiting on God is to allow the Holy Spirit to place us in a Rhythm, that will coincide with the Divine Timing of the Father. God has a set time for which He has ordained to manifest the plans that He has prepared for His people (Psalm 102). This is your Season. This is what you want to be waiting for. The Waiting on God isn't just waiting for Him to act within His Sovereignty. Yes, that's part of it, but you're waiting for His Set Time to usher in the Season for which He has appointed for your life.
The Bible says in the 6th chapter of Galatians, "let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not". Once again, this Due Season that Paul is referring to is Your Season. The Time where God is going to manifest all of the promises for which He has ordained for you. But you see that the rewards of the season are contingent upon your spiritual stamina. The scripture says that we will reap if we faint not. That's why I exhort you saints to Hang in There. Don't give up now. Don't turn back now. Hang in there, and wait for your Season. The key to maintaining spiritual stamina and waiting for your season is Preparation. While you're waiting on God to move, and while you're waiting for the Lord to usher you into your New Season, you have to focus on Preparation. One of the things that's going to disappoint a lot of believers is that when God moves and ushers in the New Season, many of His people won't be prepared. Why? Because there wasn't an anticipation or expectation for the New that God is ready to release. When you're conscious that God is doing something different in your life, and that you know you're not where you want to be nor where God has ordained you to be, you start getting prepared for where God has ordained you to be. That's why complaining and sulking and being discouraged is a waste of time, because that's time and energy that could be invested in further Preparation for where God is taking you. And understand something saints, getting to the Promised Land and staying in the Promised Land are two different things.
If you're a sports fan (and many of you may not be) then you know that Football Season starts in roughly a month. In Preparation for the Season, the teams will have scrimmages and pre-season games, in order to prepare for the upcoming Season. School starts in roughly a month for many students. School supplies and class schedules and tuition fees, all have to be addressed, in order to be adequately Prepared for the upcoming School Season. Let God continue to make Preparations for what He has in store for you. Then you'll have the proper posture and spirit in Waiting for your Season.
The God we serve is a God of Timing. When it looks like He's acting arbitrarily, this is far from the case. God is a God of Timing and Specificity. So what we want to learn to do in Waiting on God is to allow the Holy Spirit to place us in a Rhythm, that will coincide with the Divine Timing of the Father. God has a set time for which He has ordained to manifest the plans that He has prepared for His people (Psalm 102). This is your Season. This is what you want to be waiting for. The Waiting on God isn't just waiting for Him to act within His Sovereignty. Yes, that's part of it, but you're waiting for His Set Time to usher in the Season for which He has appointed for your life.
The Bible says in the 6th chapter of Galatians, "let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not". Once again, this Due Season that Paul is referring to is Your Season. The Time where God is going to manifest all of the promises for which He has ordained for you. But you see that the rewards of the season are contingent upon your spiritual stamina. The scripture says that we will reap if we faint not. That's why I exhort you saints to Hang in There. Don't give up now. Don't turn back now. Hang in there, and wait for your Season. The key to maintaining spiritual stamina and waiting for your season is Preparation. While you're waiting on God to move, and while you're waiting for the Lord to usher you into your New Season, you have to focus on Preparation. One of the things that's going to disappoint a lot of believers is that when God moves and ushers in the New Season, many of His people won't be prepared. Why? Because there wasn't an anticipation or expectation for the New that God is ready to release. When you're conscious that God is doing something different in your life, and that you know you're not where you want to be nor where God has ordained you to be, you start getting prepared for where God has ordained you to be. That's why complaining and sulking and being discouraged is a waste of time, because that's time and energy that could be invested in further Preparation for where God is taking you. And understand something saints, getting to the Promised Land and staying in the Promised Land are two different things.
If you're a sports fan (and many of you may not be) then you know that Football Season starts in roughly a month. In Preparation for the Season, the teams will have scrimmages and pre-season games, in order to prepare for the upcoming Season. School starts in roughly a month for many students. School supplies and class schedules and tuition fees, all have to be addressed, in order to be adequately Prepared for the upcoming School Season. Let God continue to make Preparations for what He has in store for you. Then you'll have the proper posture and spirit in Waiting for your Season.
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