Good Works vs.The Works of God

One of the distinctions that needs to be made as we move into this next season is the difference between "good works" and the "works of God." There are a lot of people and a lot of organizations that do a lot of good things for people, for the community, for the poor, for the needy. These various works are commendable and noteworthy. However, they don't necessarily represent the works of God.

A lot of the charitable works that organizations do cannot necessarily be recognized as the works of God because they're not done in His Name and they're not done for His Glory. If you know anything about God, He is a Jealous God and is very stingy when it comes to His Glory. He will not share His Glory with another. Therefore, when examining whether something represents "good" or "God," these are criteria that have to be taken into account.

With this in mind, we must then ask the question: "Are all the works that are done in the church the works of God?" You would think so, given that the deeds of the church are done "in His Name." However, this is not always the case. Jesus made it very clear that there are works, even miraculous works, that are being done in His Name that don't necessarily represent the works of God (Matthew 7). Why is this the case? Because God looks at the heart. You can do something, supposedly, "in His Name," but be doing it for your glory and your credit. There are too many people, particularly ministers, using the platform of the Gospel for their own fame, fortune and notoriety. This is not the will of God.

As we press into the next move of God, let us not be deceived by those who do good deeds and do good works, but don't lift up the Name of Jesus nor commit to the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Let us also not be deceived by those who claim to work in the Kingdom but are more about building their own kingdoms. Let us pray for a spirit of discernment to distinguish between "good works" and the "works of God."

Keeping Up With God

One of the things that needs to be established about the God we serve is that God is a God of movement. He's not a stationary God, He's a missionary God. He's always moving and He's always working. With this being the case, the Father expects His children to always be on the move as well. We're not talking about "just staying busy." We're talking about what Jesus said at 12 years old, "being about His Father's business" (Luke 2).

The reason why this is significant is because it's easy to go into a state of spiritual complacency. Once you've done something for so long, and experienced a reasonable amount of success, you can fall into the trap of resting on your spiritual laurels and find contentment in that particular place with God. This is deception. There's never a place of "arrival" in God. Yes, He wants us to rest in Him and labor to enter that rest (Matthew 11, Hebrews 4). But at the same time, He wants us to always to keep pressing into His will and pressing into His Presence.

Saints, there are too many churches and too many congregations that have grown content with where they are in Christ. Worship services have become predictable, praise and worship have become regulated, preaching and sermons have become monitored. Many churches are no longer reaching to come out of their "comfort zone." They're no longer anticipating a move of the Spirit beyond what they're used to. This attitude, my friends, is not of God.

God is doing a new thing. And the only way you're going to be in position to receive is to develop a sense of expectation for it. Don't fall into a spiritual rut. Don't let your time with God and devotion in the Spirit be reduced to just "going through the motions." Be receptive to the new thing that God is doing in your life and with His people. Don't become spiritually slothful, make sure that you're keeping up with God.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we ask that You wake us up in the Spirit. If we have grown complacent and slothful in our relationship with You, we ask that You have mercy on our souls and forgive us for this sin. We acknowledge Father the new thing that You're doing in the earth and amongst Your people. We ask Father, by Your Grace, that You allow us to participate in the Kingdom Agenda that You have ordained for Your elect and Your chosen. Give us discernment, give us focus, give us an ear to hear and a heart to receive. And we'll be careful Father to give You all of the Praise. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.

Deliverance from Competition

America is known for its spirit of competition. Whether it's in the area of commerce, or business, sports and even politics, our country thrives on the thrill of competition. There may be such a thing as "healthy competition," but this spirit has no place in the Body of Christ. Unfortunately, this spirit of competition has found its way in the church, and it is serving as a distraction from focusing on and building the Kingdom of God.

A spirit of competition grows out of a spirit of comparison. One of the problems with the church is that we spend too much time "comparing" ourselves with one another and thereby fostering the spirit of competition amongst the believers. We compare our congregations, who has the most members. We compare our sanctuaries, who has the biggest church. We compare our preachers, whose pastor can "preach the best." We even compare our relationship with God, who is the most "spiritual." None of this is of God. But it all grows out of the spirit of competition, which leads to a spirit of comparison.

There's nothing wrong with being "the best." But being the best doesn't have to be about being "better" than somebody else. Being the best means being the best that you can be and being the best that God has called you to be. If you're focused on being the best that God has called you to be, then you won't have the capacity to compare yourself with the next believer, or the next preacher, or the next congregation. You'll simply be focused on fulfilling the question, "Lord, what would you have me to do?"

Saints, let us not be deceived by the spirit of this culture. Let's grow up in the Spirit and get beyond self-comparisons with others and trying to be "better" or as good as someone else. Let's focus on what God has called us to do, who He's called us to be, and receive deliverance from the spirit of competition.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we ask Father that You deliver us from a spirit of competition. Father, let our self-esteem and self-worth grow out of our identification of who You've called us to be in Christ Jesus. Take our eyes off this brother and that sister, what You're doing with them and how You're blessing them. Give us a spirit of contentment and dedication to those things for which You've called us to do, and let our primary focus be to please You. We love you Father, and we count it done, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

A Wake Up Call!

Several years ago, the great film producer, Spike Lee, made a movie entitled, "School Daze." One of the scenes at the end of the movie, was of a young man who was shouting on the campus, "WAKE UP!!!!!"

Saints, that's what time it is in our world, and that is particularly what time it is in our nation. It is time for America to "Wake Up!"

Our country has become dormant when it comes to issues of faith, ethical issues of character and integrity, the difference between what is right and what is wrong, issues of justice and more than anything else, issues pertaining to the Divine Will of God. This nation has forgotten that America was founded to be a Christian nation. Whether the masses realize it or not, this nation belongs to God! America is supposed to be a God-fearing nation that serves as a Witness for the rest of the world.

Needless to say, America is failing to be the witness that God has ordained us to be. As a result of our spiritual negligence and delinquency, a Wake Up Call is in order. God is ready to reclaim America and receive on the Investment that He has made in our country for over four centuries. God is not going to continue to let America operate in a state of spiritual slumber. A Divine Wake Up Call is in order.

What can the church do, as God prepares to shake America from her spiritual stupor? We can get our "house" in order. As believers in Christ and children of God, we need to be as vigilant and diligent in regards to our relationship with God than ever before. It's time to make the "crooked places straight and the rough places plain" (Isaiah 40). It's time for us to "lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us" (Hebrews 12). It's time to sell out to God! No more spiritual mediocrity, no more lukewarm worship and praise (Revelation 3). It's time to get on fire for God!

Remember Saints, the judgment of God begins at the House of God (1Peter 4). There are plenty of Christians that need a Wake Up Call as well. Let's not be those whom God has to shake up to wake up. Let's be sober-minded and submit to God's Divine Will and Order for our lives.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray that You would release a Spirit of Repentance upon America. Give us a spirit to turn from our wicked ways. Give us a spirit to return to You in love and obedience. Give us the Grace to receive, nationally, Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. We bless Your name Father, and we give You all of the praise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Humility and Meekness

Preachers and pastors 
can sometimes be 
arrogant and proud.

As we prepare to experience one of the greatest moves of God the earth has ever seen, it's imperative that we embrace the proper character and posture to participate in the establishment of God's Kingdom in the earth. In order for us to effectively and consistently be used by God to advance His Kingdom and to glorify His Name, we have to adopt humility and meekness.

One of the biggest turn-offs to people in the world regarding the church is the level of arrogance and pride that seems to infiltrate the church. Unfortunately, sometimes, some of the most arrogant people in the church can be preachers. The word, "minister," means "servant;" but a lot of times pastors and preachers act like we're "lording" the church, not serving the church. This is not of God. 

The gifts and callings of God are without repentance (Romans 11), but in order to partner with God in the advancement of His Kingdom, a spirit of pride and arrogance can disqualify you (Matthew 22).

Humility and meekness are core traits necessary to work with God in the advancement of His Kingdom. To demonstrate humility requires a posture and attitude of modesty, lowliness and insignificance. No one should ever let their title or position define them. Because when it does, it then determines how you relate to people. This is not humility. That's why the Bible says that Jesus made Himself of "no reputation" (Philippians 2).

Meekness can be defined as "power under control." Meekness is not synonymous with humility. Meekness takes a certain level of restraint and self-control, because you have the power and ability to do certain things, but a spirit of meekness allows you not to abuse that power. That's why Jesus described Himself as "meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11).

Saints, when we look at the various relationships that we are in and the various interactions that we have with other people, can our attitude and disposition be described as humble and meek? Are you always having to get your way or are you humble enough to serve the desires of others? Do you have to always be right or can you let others express their perspective without having to shoot and shut them down? If we really want to be Christ-like, if we really want to be workers of the Kingdom of God, then we have to master humility and meekness.

What's the Real Problem?

A lot of Christians I know are preoccupied with the subject of sin, whether it's their own personal sin that they haven't learned to overcome yet or whether it's someone else's sin for which they find offensive or have been victimized by. It may even be the sin of a nation, present or past. Whatever the context, a lot of discussion seems to center around the topic of sin.

However, sin is not the real problem. God does not have a problem with our sin. Doesn't that sound like heresy? Why do I make that statement? The reason why God doesn't have a problem with sin is because He sent His Son Jesus Christ to take care of the sin problem. When Jesus died on the Cross for the sins of the world, sin no longer became a problem for God. Does that mean He likes sin? No! Does that mean God is okay with people sinning? No! (Romans 6) I said God does not have a problem with sin because the problem has been solved. Now that all of our sins have been forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, God the Father no longer has a problem with sin, it's no longer a barrier between us and Him.

So then, if sin is not the problem (and it is not) then what's the real problem? The real problem is not sin, the real problem is self. Any sinful act, behavior or thought all revolves around the self: 

• Self-Centeredness
• Selfishness
• Self-Promotion
• Self-Indulgence
• Self-Pleasure

Any act of disobedience to God is rooted in the self. That's why Jesus said that the first requirement to be His disciple was to deny yourself (Matthew 16). Not deny sin, deny self.

I would challenge each and every one of us to examine our hearts and see where the spirit of self has taken root. If you are wrestling with some area of sin, ask the Holy Spirit to show you "the root" of your disobedience by exposing what it is in your self that makes you show more allegiance to you than to God. If you're a Christian, we know you're convicted by your sinful actions (John 16); but if you haven't addressed the part of your self that's sponsoring the sin in the first place, your behavior won't change. Let's quit getting preoccupied with the sin; let's start to deal with the self--the real problem!

It's Time to Make the Shift

Saints, we are in a season where God is shifting things. Last Sunday we experienced Daylight Savings Time and the clocks were moved one hour forward- a shift. Next week we'll move from the season of winter into the official season of Spring- a shift. Next Saturday represents the New Moon on the Hebrew calendar, representing the beginning of a new month-a shift. Next month we celebrate the Feast of Passover, which, according to Exodus 14, represents the "beginning of months"-a shift.

The God we serve is a God of Shifts, and if you're going to work for Him and work with Him, you have to be able to make the shift. This means that there are some changes that God is allowing to transpire in many of our lives that don't represent "the way things were" nor how things "used to be." A lot of times, it seems like nothing was wrong with the "old way." It seemed to work just fine and seemed to be in alignment with God's will for our lives. But God is doing a "new thing" (Isaiah 43), which means we have to make a shift.

I know it's not easy. Change is usually difficult and inconvenient. But God is sponsoring the changes and shifts to further facilitate our preparation for the New Move of God. When God releases His revival and restoration in the Earth, we're going to see things that we've never seen before (1Corinthians 2). So this means we're going to have to do some things that we've never done before (Joshua 3). 

Don't be discouraged, don't complain, ask God for the grace to make the necessary changes and shifts that the Spirit is leading you to make. It may not make sense right now, but don't worry about that. The God we serve is a God of Change, and He's a God that Divinely sponsors shifts in our lives to coincide with the shifts that He's ordaining in the heavens and the Earth. It's time saints, it's time to make the shift!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we come before You today asking You for the grace necessary to make the shifts that You are sponsoring in our lives. Father, if we've been guilty of complaining or murmuring or even giving up and being slothful, we ask Father that You forgive us. Encourage us, renew us and give us the spiritual stamina required to adjust to what You've divinely ordained for our lives. We love you Father and we say, not our will, but Thy Will be done. We give You all of the Praise, in Jesus' Name, Amen.