Perseverance

A while ago, maybe a couple of months, a prophet-friend of mine received a prophetic word from the Lord that they were allowed to share with me. The word wasn't very elaborate, but yet very succinct and powerful. The word was, Perseverance. A lot of times when the Lord speaks to this particular prophet, the Lord will simply give them one word, but the one word is usually loaded with prophetic meaning. This time around, the word that the prophet received was, Perseverance.

In the days ahead, and in order to get to and get through what God has allowed and ordained, you're going to need to operate in the spirit of Perseverance. I often mistake Perseverance with Persistence. This is incorrect. Persistence is the repetition of a particular action or pursuit with a certain degree of consistency. Perseverance is the demonstration of persistence in the midst of  adversity and disappointment. You demonstrate Perseverance when you're challenged to go through something that is disappointing and discouraging, yet you don't allow it to hinder the pursuit of your goals and ambitions. This is what God is looking for from His people.

It's the end of the year, and many of the saints are tired and worn out. Certain promises have been made, certain dreams believed in, and yet at the end of the day, for all intents and purposes, your situation looks pretty much the same as it did last year. And in some cases, may even appear to be worse. This is where God is calling you to demonstrate Perseverance.

I can assure you saints, God has not forgotten about you. If God has made you a promise, if there are certain things that you've been waiting on from the Lord and they still have yet to come to pass, exercise Perseverance.  I know you've demonstrated faith, that's why you've waited this long. But the Bible says in the 6th chapter of the Book of Hebrews that "through faith and patience inherit the promises". This is Perseverance.

Now is not the time to give up. Now is not the time to throw in the towel. Now is not the time to shrink back. Now is not the time to become indifferent. Now is the time to gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the Grace that is to brought unto you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ (1Peter 1). Hold on for just a little while longer. Your breakthrough is nigh! Simply ask the Holy Spirit to continue to develop within you the grace and spirit of Perseverance.

What is Islam?

We are in some very critical times right now, where the American people need to understand what we are up against as a nation. With the recent shootings in San Bernardino, California, we need to understand what is sponsoring these terrorist attacks in our nation and throughout the world. What cannot be denied, regardless of the comments of the media and the politicians, is that Muslims are behind the terror that is shaking our world. Muslims are individuals that adhere to the religious belief called Islam. The people who are massacring masses of innocent people across the globe are adherents to this religious faith described as Islam. Whether you want to label them as "radical" Muslims or "extremists", the bottom line is, they engage in these acts of war in the name of Islam. For this reason, it is imperative at this juncture that Americans have a better understanding of what Islam is and its perspective on America and the Western world's way of life. What I believe will perpetuate more danger is not necessarily prejudice or divisiveness, but ignorance of what we're up against and what is fueling the hatred that is set on destroying America.

So, what is Islam? Islam is the faith of nearly 1.5 billion people across the world that follows the teachings of the book the Quran and adheres to the teachings of their prophet, Mohammed. Many Muslims, particularly those in America, don't necessarily hold to the beliefs that are sponsoring the deadly acts of the terrorist caliphate called ISIS. However, it needs to be understood, even though they may not be "extremists", they do adhere to the Islamic faith. What we want to lay out is the "brand" of Islam that is sponsoring the war that we are currently in with ISIS. The brand of Islam that is sponsoring the types of deadly attacks that we witnessed last week in San Bernardino, is a supremacist political ideology that insists on imposing sharia, which is Islamic holy law, on the world. This Islamic ideology holds the belief that if a person doesn't convert to Islam, they should be stoned to death and executed. This is the belief of ISIS and other terrorist groups that operate in the name of Islam.

What needs to be understood by everyday Americans is that a June 2015 poll of Muslims living in the United States by the Center for Security Policy showed that 51% seek to embrace sharia over the U.S. Constitution. In addition, nearly one in four of Muslims polled believed that "it is legitimate to use violence to punish those who give offense to Islam by, for example, portraying the prophet Mohammed". One in five respondents agreed that "the use of violence is justified in order to make sharia law the law of the land in this country" while only 39% believed that Muslims in the U.S. should be subjected to American courts.

Why is all of this important? Because there's a seed that has been planted in our country, and the Bible is true, you reap what you sow (Galatians 6). Our departure from God, Christianity, has opened our nation up to the spirit of this religion that outright does not respect nor adhere to the American way of life. Islam, under sharia law, is incompatible with open elections, rights for minorities, trial by jury, and all other institutions familiar to the Western way of life; not to mention freedom of religion and freedom of speech. We are at war saints, in more ways than one. And if we want to survive and for this great nation of ours to be preserved, we need to repent and turn back to God, and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ under the Covenant of His Blood.

We Are At War

We are in a very critical time in the United States of America, and it's time that we come to grips with where things really stand in our nation. We are at War. No matter how you slice it or dice it, this nation has a war on its hands that the American people need to be aware of. The latest shooting in San Bernardino, California should convince all of us that we are in a war. When a woman can leave a six-month old baby in order to fulfill a suicide mission in the name of terrorism, we are at War. Regardless of what the media pundits or the political candidates are saying or not saying, it's time we face the facts: We are at War.


As I've been stating for months, this should not be a surprise to anyone. This nation is under Divine Judgment. This too is a fact that, at some point or another if this nation wants to survive, America's going to have to face as well. You don't slap God in the face with the perversion and abomination of the legislation of same-sex marriage and not expect to experience Divine Accountability. Whether the general populace or even the church, recognizes it or not, this country was founded as a Christian nation. No, the witness of America has not always exemplified Christian principles, but the founding of this nation in the 17th and 18th centuries was based upon religious freedom and the Christian faith. God was responsible for the founding of America, and He's also the One responsible for making America the most prosperous nation in the world. But when you decide to forsake God and insult Him by denying His divine and sacred ways, He then will leave you to your own devices, which then results in national destruction.


The threat of ISIS is for real. The President can play it down if he wants, legislators can play "politically correct" if they choose to, but this terrorist organization is out to destroy America and Western culture (i.e Paris, France). And don't fool yourself, part of the destruction that they're out to mete out is not restricted to America but also the adherents of the Christian faith. This terrorist threat by ISIS is serious. It has already been prophetically declared that ISIS threats are in the making in this country during the Christmas season. God is trying to warn America and His people, GET READY FOR JUDGMENT.


God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2Timothy 1). As believers in Christ, we don't have to be afraid. All we have to do is be covered by the Blood of Jesus. But this is not something that we can do "haphazardly". Just as the children of Israel were "prophetically instructed" to put blood on the door posts of their homes in order to escape the Judgment that God executed against the nation of Egypt (Exodus 12), we too as Christians must "apply" the Blood of Jesus in our lives in order to be sufficiently covered from the Storm that is about to hit this country. It's time to recognize saints, We are at War.

The Feast of Dedication

Starting Sunday evening, December 6, The Feast of Dedication will commence. This is an 8 Day Celebration that is celebrated by the Jews. It is not one of the major Jewish feasts that are identified in the Old Testament. But it is noted in the New Testament, and was a Feast that was actually celebrated by Jesus (John 10). Therefore, if it was worth Jesus celebrating it, and the Holy Spirit taking time to record it in Scripture, then it's still worth the Body of Christ acknowledging it as well.

This Feast is generally recognized as Hanukkah, and is looked at as a Jewish parallel to Christmas. However, this is not the case. The historical aspects of this Feast are quite inspiring (which you can research on your own), but what strikes me about this particular Feast is the focus and the timing. This is the Feast of Dedication. This is a time like never before that we truly need to be Dedicated to the Lord. This is not the time to play. This is not the time to be waddling in habits and behavior that we know is outside of the Divine Will of God. This is not the time to be resisting the Revealed Will of God for your life. This is the time to be completely submitted and sold out to the Lord. Whatever you have to do to be in complete alignment with the Lord, now is the time to do it. I strongly urge you, whatever it is or has been that the Spirit has been convicting you of, Repent. If I can say it like this, the Lord's not playing (Acts 17). This Feast should be a time to Consecrate ourselves unto the Lord as this year comes near a close.

The last thing saints, these are some perilous times that we are living in right now. With the terror attacks in Paris, the shootings in Colorado and California, we are living in very dangerous times. None of this is coincidence. I've said it for months now, when you turn your back on God, Divine Judgment is inevitable. But can I tell you something? It's far from over. The Father is lifting His Hand off America. Not to punish us, but to call us back to repentance so that as a nation, we will turn back to Him. Now is the time to make sure that you are covered by the Blood of Jesus. Now is the time to renew our Dedication to Him.

God-Sense v.s non-sense

If you are striving to have an intimate walk with Christ and develop your relationship with God, then probably at some point you've questioned some of the things that God has called you to do. Have you ever said, "you want me to do what Lord"? This is normal as God stretches our faith and challenges us to grow in Him. However, one of the reasons why we're apt to digress into this mode of Divine Interrogation is because we haven't learned to distinguish between God-Sense and non-sense. A lot of times, when God tells us to do something, it just doesn't make sense. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it's non-sense. We must learn to differentiate between the two.


What we must establish and learn to embrace is the fact that God's ways are not our ways and that God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55). With this being the case, it would stand to reason that God's Eternal and Omniscient thought process is going to infinitely exceed ours. Therefore, we should come to expect that the things that God is calling us to do and the things for which He is leading us to are not going to register with our human and finite perspective. This has to become a given. Why? So that when God gives you a directive or commandment, you won't be "looking" for it to make sense. Believe it or not, this will reduce a lot of anxiety and stress in regards to the execution and manifestation of God's Divine Will for your life.


Once you've settled that what God is telling you doesn't make sense "to you", and that it is a given, then you will be challenged to move into the gear of faith. This is why the Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11). If you're trying to serve God within the context of your logic and rationale, you're going to be frustrated and you're going to run out of steam. But once you understand that as finite humans we're just not going to "get" what God is doing, then you can move into faith mode.


Faith is the means by which we can appropriately relate to God and begin to perceive what He is doing. When we walk by faith and not by sight (2Corinthians 5), the Spirit begins to renew our minds and give us revelation that will register with our spirits. Once the activity and movement of God begins to register with our spirits, the Lord begins to settle it in our minds, and by faith, it begins to make sense.


There are some things that The Father is getting ready to release and manifest in the earth that, by all rational appearances, is not going to make sense. As believers in Christ, we can't afford to get bogged down in that type of unbelief. We have to make sure that we gird up our faith and are walking by God-sense, not non-sense.

The Grief of God

Grief is an epidemic that affects the world. If you're human and are of age (which is relative), then you've experienced grief. Grief is an emotional and psychological response to an experience of loss in one's life. If a person has experienced a significant loss in their life, then they've experienced grief. People who have lost loved ones to death, have experienced grief. People who have gotten divorced or had a serious break-up, have experienced grief. People who have lost their jobs, and sometimes even retirement, have experienced grief. There are many instances where people grieve the loss of something or someone. But have we ever taken the time to consider the Grief of God? A lot of times, we think of God as this Distant, Cosmic Being who's in control of everything and decides the fate of every person's life and being. This assessment of God is incorrect. Nobody feels as much as God. Nobody is as Sensitive as God. Nobody is more caring than God. No one is more considerate than God. As Christians, we more than anybody else need to remember that GOD IS LOVE (1John 4). And when you really love someone, you're more prone to be hurt than if your concern is "surface" and self-oriented. God is not superficial and His Love is not selfish. He loves us with an Eternal and Sacrificial Love (John 3). So because of our lack of regard and sensitivity towards God, whether we realize it or not, it hurts Him. Consequently we have the issue of The Grief of God.


The bible says to "grieve not the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 4). When Jesus entered Jerusalem prior to His Crucifixion, He wept (Luke 19). This was a sign of Grief. What is it that Grieves the Heart of God? It is our blatant Disobedience and Disregard for Him as God. God has mercy for sins (Psalm 136). We think that God is this Heavenly Tyrant just waiting to punish humanity because we've "messed up". This is not the Spirit of God. No parent, who is sane, is ready to throw their child out of the house or beat them up just because they "did something wrong". That's what kids and children do. But what breaks a parent's heart is when that child has no regard for the authority and discipline of their parent. You tell the child what to do and there's no respect, no consideration. They won't do what you say and they don't want to gain a better understanding of why they should have to do it. This is what will break a mother or father's heart. Such is the same with God. God loves His creation and He loves His children. When we make it clear that we are not going to do what God says. When there's no conviction of sin, no wrestle between right and wrong, no spirit of repentance and submission; this is what sponsors The Grief of God.


I can assure you saints, God is Grieving right now. He's grieving over His church, and He's grieving over His nation, America. In both instances, this country and many of our congregations have refused to submit and subscribe to the Divine Will of God. The God we serve is a God of Patience (Romans 15). He gives us time to repent (Revelation 2). But when we make it clear to Him that we have no intention of surrendering to His Will, then it breaks His Heart.


The Call to Repentance is about to expire. The Season of Judgment is about to commence. When the Judgment of God is released upon His church and upon this country, people will still be given the opportunity to turn to God; but what could've been avoided and abated will have to be experienced and endured. It will be the results of a people who had no regard for The Grief of God.

Get Better, Not Bitter

Many of us have had experiences where someone hurt our feelings, did us wrong or dogged us out. I'm sure all of us at some level have been betrayed or our trust broken in a relationship. Pain unfortunately is a part of life. But how we handle the pain and how we handle the hurt is a Choice. This is very critical for Christians, because as believers in Christ who have been saved by Grace, we have an obligation and a responsibility to forgive (Matthew 6). Some us are still angry, some of us are still hurt, some of us are still mad about what happened to us years and years ago. This is not the Will of God. It is not God's will for us to be bitter, it's God's Will for us to get Better. Our salvific destiny hinges on the fact of whether we have the capacity to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us (Colossians 3).


One of the ways that we can get Better and not bitter is to recognize the need for Healing. Whether it's the loss of a loved one through death, a divorce or a break-up of a significant relationship. Whether it's the loss of a job or some other type of hurt that you've been challenged to endure; people are quick to say, "I'm Ok". This is not always an accurate response to their emotional state and condition. I'm sure people want to "believe" that they're ok, but in a lot of instances, they are not. It's time that we start admitting and acknowledging, no I'm not ok. Yes I still hurt, yes I still cry about it, yes I'm still angry, yes I'm still mad. It's ok to feel that way, it's just not ok to "stay that way" (Ephesians 4). And if you're in denial about where you are emotionally in regards to the hurt and pain you've been through, you're not going to heal and the pain is going to grow into bitterness and resentment. Once again, this is not the Will of God. We've got to take the time to say "ouch". We must acknowledge the need to be healed.


Another means of not getting bitter and getting Better is to talk to someone. There are too many people that are "holding the pain in". I know sometimes it's hard to find people to talk to about your personal and intimate feelings; but the word of God says that we should confess our faults one to another that we may be healed (James 5). This is why I am a strong proponent of Counseling. I know there are some Christians that are too "spiritual" to take advantage of this resource, but it is needed, even for a lot of believers. Sometimes, we just don't have the capacity to work through a painful and hurtful situation on our own. We need help. And if your support system isn't sufficient to assist you emotionally and psychologically through some of your painful episodes in life, a good counselor may be the answer to your prayers.


Finally saints, keep in mind that at the end of the day, being bitter simply is not the Divine Will of God (Ephesians 4). No matter how you justify it to yourself, as a child of God and a believer in Christ, you simply don't have the right to hold bitterness in your heart. And as I referenced earlier, holding onto bitterness can have dangerous eternal repercussions for your life. Give your pain to God. Let Him minister to you and heal the wounds and hurts that you've absorbed in life. Learn to let the Grace of God make you Better, not bitter.