The Fallacy of Human Compassion

Not long ago I had the privilege of working for a human services organization. I was having a conversation with one of the managers there, who happens to be a very good friend of mine, and we were discussing some of the dynamics of the services that the organization rendered to the community. In the course of the conversation my friend became rather "perturbed" at some of my comments about the organization that we were both working for (I think perturbed is a fair description). As the conversation ensued, I believe the manager, who is also a devout Christian, began to understand the vantage point of my comments. Basically my perspective was that just because an organization does good deeds doesn't mean that those deeds are godly nor do they represent the Will of God.


This is an issue that the church is going to have to confront, internally and externally, in the very near future. As the children of God we must come to understand that not all good deeds are godly. There are a lot of things that non-profit corporations do and even a lot of churches, that help people and meet certain needs, but do not represent nor reflect the Divine Will of God. Now, most conventional (and unfortunately Christian) thinking revolves around the belief that if a person is helping people and meeting the needs of others, then this is the Will of God. I want to go on record and make it clear that this is not the case.


It is not the job of the church to do good deeds, it is the job of the church to obey God. Let me say it again: it is not the job or the call of the church to do good deeds, it is the job of the church to obey God. Does this mean we are not to do good deeds? Of course not. The point I'm making is that you don't develop a ministerial agenda that puts helping people above executing under the leadership of the Holy Spirit the Divine Will of God.


Why is this an issue? Because there are many churches that are actually "copying" the work of non-profit and philanthropic organizations in the name of ministry, when this is not the will of God for the church and the Body of Christ. Why is the church called to ministry? Why are we as Christians called to minister to the poor and the least of these? So that the love of God may manifested in the earth and souls are won to Christ. The purpose of ministry is to advance the Kingdom of God. Part of the advancement of the Kingdom is that people will get to know Jesus in the pardon of their sins and accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior. This is the primary objective of the church engaging in what we call outreach ministry.


You have a lot of organizations that do a lot of good and help a lot of people, but are they lifting up the Name of Jesus? You have a lot of government agencies that are truly addressing community needs, but is God getting the Glory? Can I even "talk" about Jesus and Jehovah in certain environments that address community concerns? If I can't lift up the name of Jesus, if I can't openly testify about my God, if I can't share the Good News of the Gospel that souls may be saved, then no matter how good the work is that is being done it is not of God.


This is a stand that the church is going to have to take. We're moving into a season where people are going to be "desperate" for help. God is going to provide us with the resources from Heaven to meet needs in His Name. But we can't be ashamed to give God the Glory. We can't be bashful about proclaiming that we're meeting the needs of the hungry, the homeless, the sick and diseased in obedience to Jesus the Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. There will be a subtle attempt to get the Christian community to downplay who we're working for and just emphasize "helping people". No! We're helping people to glorify God (Matthew 5). Acts of charity and service that are not designed to glorify God and fulfill His redemptive purpose to win souls to Christ demonstrates the Fallacy of Human Compassion.

Independence v.s Individuality

There's a misconception in the context of marriage that I believe is undermining a lot of marriages and sponsoring many break-ups and divorces. People don't understand the difference between Independence and Individuality. When you get married, if these terms are not clearly defined and proper boundaries set accordingly, you can mix up your marital roles and unintentionally sponsor the demise of your own marriage. We need to gain a better understanding of what these two things mean so that we can apply them properly to our respective marriage relationships.

For the record, when a person gets married, they lose their Independence. The Bible clearly states that a man should leave his mother and father, cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one (Genesis 2). The oneness of marriage precludes independence. Once you get married, you no longer have your "own life". You now literally belong to someone else (1Corinthians 7). If you get married and you're trying to have your own life "independent" of your spouse, then you're not ready to be married. This is a hard pill for some people to swallow. However, no matter how tight it is, it is biblically correct. We must understand that we are "yoked" to our spouse once we get married, and this is by Divine Design.

However, even though you lose your independence in marriage, you don't lose your individuality. You're still and independent person, you just no longer can operate independently. You still have your own mind, your own thoughts, your own opinions. This is your individuality. You don't have to lose your sense of self and your self-concept just because you said  "I do". This is where people miss it. Either they go to the extreme of wanting to keep their "own life", or they attempt to simply "lose themselves" in their spouse or in the marriage. Neither one of these perspectives are healthy.

Remember that the Christian's relationship to God is likened to marriage (Isaiah 54). The way God has created us, we were never designed to operate and function independently of God. Everything we do is supposed to be in concert with the Divine Will of God for our lives. However, God didn't make us to be robots. He gave us freedom of choice. Not free will, but Freedom of Choice (Romans 6). And with that freedom of choice, our individuality stays in tact. God did this because the mystery of our relationship with Him and in marriage is "the two becoming one". The individuality is what constitutes the two. The inter-dependence is what constitutes the one. Let's make sure that we ask God for wisdom so that we can properly discern and apply the difference between Independence v.s Individuality.

Going to the Next Level

As we commence the New Year, one of the things that we understand is that 2016 will be a year of Ascension. God is ready to take His people to a Higher Level. God is ready to Elevate His people to the Next Level. The challenge with this is that you have to be properly Positioned and Prepared. If you've been a spiritual slacker or slothful, unfaithful and disobedient, then you can't expect to receive God's Promotion. You'll have to wait till the next class is in session (which could be decades). But if you've been patient and steadfast, then God has a Reward for you. He's ready to take you to the Next Level.

One of the reasons why many Christians don't make it to the Next Level that God has ordained for their lives and their walk with Him is because they give up prematurely. Understand that Going to the Next Level is not simply a "smooth transition", it's tough and it's difficult. As a matter of fact, when God is putting the finishing touches of taking you where He's ordained for you to go, it may actually feel like God is punishing you or that He's in some way abandoned you or is mistreating you. Quite the contrary saints. That's why we walk by faith and not by sight (2Corinthians 5). If you try to assess the movement of God by what you see in the natural, you'll always be disappointed and deceived. That's why you've got to trust God's Word and hope in the promises that you know He's made to you.

Jesus is the perfect example. Remember when He was baptized by John the Baptist and anointed by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove (Matthew 3), you would think that after that He would be ready to roll. That's not how it went down. Next thing we see, Jesus is undergoing one of the greatest seasons of Satanic attack He had ever experienced (Matthew 4). No one's had to endure the type of temptation that Jesus did. Yet it was the prelude to His Ministerial Promotion. That's why after His Wilderness Experience, the next scene we see is Him quoting His Messianic Mission (Isaiah 61) and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom (Luke 4).

It may be hard for you right now saints. But don't give up and don't give in. Now is not the time to quit. Now is the time to gird up your loins and be sober (1Peter 1). Now is the time to make up your mind that you'll never quit. You'll never give up on God. At His lowest point on the Cross, Jesus never gave up on God, and He never gave up on us. He knew that when the pain and suffering was through, God was going to resurrect Him from the dead and transform His pain to Glory. We too have the same promise (Romans 8), if we can stay focused on Going to the Next Level.

The Prophetic Significance of Bill Cosby

One of the hottest items in the news right now is the situation swirling around Bill Cosby. People are asking the question of did he do it? Did his wife know he was unfaithful? Who's behind setting him up? Why are all these women coming out "now"? While all of these may be very legitimate questions, let's first establish that based upon the answers that Mr. Cosby gave in a 2005 deposition regarding similar charges, at the least he admitted to his sexual misconduct and unfaithfulness to his wife. So the allegations are not "beyond belief". But I believe that there is a deeper message regarding this case that the people of God need to recognize.

When the accusations against Bill Cosby were blowing up in the media this summer, the Lord allowed me to read a passage out of the 2nd chapter of the book of Habakkuk. When I read this passage, my spirit immediately went to Bill Cosby. The scripture reads as follows: "Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness! You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also-drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the Lord's right hand will be turned against you, and utter shame will be on your glory." (New King James Version) When I read this passage of scripture this summer, I immediately thought of Bill Cosby, because at the time he was trying to "shrug off" if you will, these allegations against him. At the risk of being judgmental, I felt like if he were guilty of these accusations, that he would not get away with it, he would be exposed (the exact word used in the scripture) and that his glory would turn to shame (once again, the exact terminology used in the aforementioned passage). We are now seeing all of this take place right before our very eyes.

Why does this have prophetic significance? When the Lord had me read this passage, it was during the summer. What also took place during the summer of 2015? The legislation of same-sex marriage. And what the prophetic message was to me, was that just as Bill Cosby was going to be exposed and his glory turned to shame, the same thing would happen to America. All of this is Judgment. Bill Cosby is being judged.  We can be sympathetic for him all we want (and there's nothing wrong with that), but God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2). Just like the deeds of Bill Cosby are being judged, the deeds and misconduct of America will be judged as well. Just like Bill Cosby, we've tried to shrug off the abomination of same-sex marriage, we've tried to minimize and dismiss the atrocity of abortion. But no more! This will be the year that we will experience The Season of Judgment! Just look at all of the floods and tornadoes scattered throughout our country. Yes saints, the situation with Bill Cosby has Prophetic Significance. The Judgment of God will not wait forever. The Father has given us space to repent, and we as a nation have refused (Revelation 2). Therefore, America too will be "exposed as uncircumcised...and utter shame will be on your glory". (Habakkuk 2, New King James Version)

Fighting For Christ

A few days ago I was speaking to a prophet friend of mine, and they shared with me a word that the Lord had given them for 2016. The word was that 2016 was going to be a "Warring Year". Isn't it something that one of the biggest movies of 2015 was entitled "War Room"? The prophetic word registered with my spirit. Saints, if you want 2016 to be a prosperous and successful year, then you need to prepare your heart, mind and body for War. It's time that we prepare to Fight for Christ.

One of the areas that we're going to have to War is in the area of Spiritual Growth. The scripture says in Romans chapter 7, "but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin". The wrestle between the flesh and the Spirit is a War (Galatians 5). And if we're going to continue to progress in Christ we're going to have to fight it. We can't just "go with the flow" and let our fleshly tendencies get the best of us. A lot of times yielding to the flesh is natural (Ephesians 2). But as the children of God, we're not reaching for the natural, we're reaching for the Supernatural. And in order to walk in the Supernatural, we must first learn to endure the un-natural. Yes it will be awkward and uncomfortable, but it's the price you pay when you're Fighting for Christ.

Then we're going to have to Fight for Christ in regards to the advancement of the Kingdom of God. We must always remember that as Christians we are always up against the Enemy (John 10). Satan rules over the kingdom of darkness. Our job is to vanquish that darkness by promoting the Light of the world (John 1). However, in order to carry out this Commission, we have to go to War. We have to be willing to fight for the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Are you ready to fight for Christ and His Kingdom even if it means death? Even if it means the smearing of your reputation? Even if it means the loss of family and friends?

Lastly saints, the prophet said that 2016 is going to be a Warring Year. The prophet did not say this specifically, but I believe that we're going to see actual warfare, like nations fighting nations, in 2016. Yes, America is at war with ISIS right now, but I believe a greater war, literally and physically, awaits this nation this year. I do not have prophetic confirmation on this, this is just my faith. But I said all of last year that America is set up for Divine Judgment and that the Father has declared that HE IS going to Shake America! My personal belief is that part of this Divine Shaking will be manifested in national warfare in the United States of America.

Don't let these things frighten you saints. Use this warning as motivation to get Prepared. This is the Year. I believe that 2016 is going to be a Great Year. God is going to Move in Ways that we've never witnessed before. But in order for the Divine Movement of God to be a Blessing in your life, you must be willing and prepared to Fight for Christ.

A Hopeless Generation

We live in a society now that is not energized with Hope. The generation that we find ourselves in the 21st century is practically Hopeless. When I say generation, I'm not talking about simply the "young people" or the "on-coming" generation. I'm talking about the people who are alive during this age and era. Socially and culturally (not necessarily individually) we are a Hopeless Generation. Why do I say that?

Hope is the ability to look beyond the present and current circumstances and envision a brighter tomorrow and a better future. Hope is not simply some type of enthusiastic optimism in the midst of trying and tedious times. Hope is being able to identify and assess what tomorrow is going to look like, a brighter tomorrow, even though there's nothing about the present that suggests that tomorrow is possible (Romans 8). That is why I say we are a Hopeless Generation; there's no vision of tomorrow that suggests it's going to be significantly better than today. No Hope.

The real challenge with this is the Witness of the Church. If anybody should be hopeful it is the children of God. However, because we as the body of Christ have failed to be renewed in the spirit of our minds (Ephesians 4), we have developed a social and cultural perspective that is commensurate with that of the world. No Hope. So what are we to do in the midst of a generation, a country and a culture that offers no hope for a brighter future and a better tomorrow?

Saints, believe it or not, we may not have to do anything. In a matter of days, (that could be weeks, that could be months) God is getting ready to turn some things around. When the Lord releases His Judgment upon America, people will be desperate, including government officials and community leaders, to find hope anywhere they can. The beauty of it will be, the only Hope that will be available will be in God. People will start talking about God that you didn't even think knew the Name of Jesus. People will start talking about Prayer that previously were "anti-church". It's going to come to pass. And when it does, in His Everlasting Mercy, God is going to offer Salvation, Deliverance and Restoration to those who put their trust and faith in His Name. As the elect and chosen of Christ, all we need to do is be prepared. Now is not the time to go to sleep. Now is not the time to become self-centered. Now is not the time to seek self-pity. Now is not the time to indulge in self-pleasure. Now is the time to deny yourself, be sober and hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto us at the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Matthew 16, 1Peter 1). The God we serve is the God of All Hope (Romans 15); and as we prepare to go into 2016, He is ready to minister Hope to a Hopeless Generation.

The Key to Prosperity

I haven't met a person yet that didn't want to Prosper. Whether it's prosperity in their finances, in their health, in their career, in their relationships; everybody wants to prosper and be successful. However, a lot of people, including Christians, don't understand what to do to achieve Prosperity. For the record, just because you're a Christian doesn't automatically mean that you're going to prosper and be blessed. Being a Christian and a child of God gives you "access" to being prosperous in Christ and in the Lord. But it's like having a brand new car in the driveway and not having the keys; you're not going anywhere. Such is the case with many believers, we don't have The Key to Prosperity.

The bible says in Second Chronicles chapter twenty, "Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper". I heard a prophet say once, we have a lot of established churches because we believe in the Lord God, but we don't have a lot of prosperous churches because we don't know how to receive the prophetic word. We're in a day now saints where if you want to prosper, you're going to need more than just the "pastoral word" that you hear on Sunday mornings. For the record, the pastoral office and the prophetic office are not synonymous (Ephesians 4). I'm not saying don't go to church on Sunday morning. And I'm not saying don't listen to what your pastor has to say. What I am saying is that if your pastor isn't a prophet or operates in a prophetic anointing, you're going to need more than what you're getting in order to Prosper. This is a spiritual reality that the church must come to grips with, if we want to become a Prosperous Church. We have to understand rank in the Body of Christ and in the Kingdom of God. In order to prosper, it's not enough just to believe in God and believe in Christ, you have to believe His prophets, the prophetic word of the Lord.

The Lord told Joshua in Joshua chapter one, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success". If you're going to be prosperous you have to be a student of the Word of God. We still have too many professing Christians that do not read their Bibles for themselves. This is not correct. You can't grow spiritually and mature in the Lord just hearing a word from God one day out of the week. It's not going to happen. We must become disciplined and learn to read and study the Word of God, day and night. If we learn to read the Word and heed the prophetic voice of God through His prophets, we will embrace the Key to Prosperity.