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.
 

The Fairness of God

Recently I was having a discussion with a friend of mine in regards to the Fairness of God. We were exploring the question, is God fair? My response was a resounding, no He is not. And can I tell you something, I'm glad about it! There may be many of you that are going through situations right now that you feel that you don't "deserve" to be in. You're finding yourself assessing your situation and questioning the Fairness of God. "Lord, this isn't fair. I don't deserve this". I won't question whether or not you deserve to be going through what you're going through. But to me, what is unquestionable is the Fairness of God. To me, God is absolutely, Not Fair.

Let's first talk about what we as "sinful creatures" really deserve. If God gave us what we deserve in regards to our obedience to Him, our loyalty to Him, our submission to Him, our worship of Him; would we be where we are right now? The bible says that the wages of sin are death (Romans 6). Have any of you sinned "lately"? If you have then you "deserve" to die. So then, if you're simply alive and breathing, within the Justice of God, that's not fair. Do you see what I'm saying? We like to look at the Fairness of God in light of what we're going through at the time, not in light of what we deserve overall within the economy of God.

Then let's look at the Fairness of God in regards to the treatment of His own Son. The bible says that Jesus was without sin (2Corinthians 5). Yet He was crucified on the Cross for our sins and iniquities (Isaiah 53). Is this fair? Is it fair for a Man who did nothing wrong to suffer a brutal and humiliating death just so a sinful humanity could be reconciled to God? I don't think so. And remember, it was the will of God that Jesus died on the Cross for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53). So, once again, when we think about our own Eternal Salvation and the price that Jesus had to pay, surely The Father is not Fair.

Yet, let's examine one other area of the Fairness of God. Favor is not Fair. Is there any one of us that "deserves" the Favor of God? The times He's blessed you, the times He's delivered you, the times He's healed you, the times He's made a way out of no way; did you deserve that? The times that He's let you live while others have gone on to their grave; were you "better" than that other person? No you were not. The reason you weren't in the accident, the reason your life was spared is because God is not Fair. We generally describe it as The Grace of God, God's unmerited favor. This is significant, because we're getting ready to enter a season where God is going to pour out His Miracle Blessings upon His chosen and elect, while others have to deal with the consequences of Judgment. I can assure you, it won't look fair. But at the end of the day, God is Sovereign and God is Just. I'm just so glad that God is not Fair.

Change is Coming

As we acknowledge the first official day of winter and the drawing of the end of the year, we want to recognize that Change is Coming. The weather is different (unseasonably warm) and people are still on edge regarding the terrorist attacks that are taking place around the world. But be not deceived, things are getting ready to change in our country, and in our world.


I don't have a timeline or an exact date, but I can assure that as we go into 2016 (and remember, 2015 isn't over just yet) we are going to experience some things that we have not witnessed or experienced in our lifetime. The scripture says very clearly that because the Judgment of God is not always swift, men do not always heed the warning and word of God as they should (Ecclesiastes 8). However, the word of Judgment that God has issued, particularly for America, is still in effect. Don't let the times lull you to sleep. We serve a very Merciful God. He wants all men to come to repentance (2Peter 3).
But the time is short, and the Judgment of God is imminent.


At the same time, as the children of God and believers in Christ, we too want to recognize that Change is Coming. For a lot of believers, it's been a dry season. Things are not moving quite the way you would want them to, and things are not changing as fast as you'd like for them to change. I say to you my brothers and sisters, Be Patient (Hebrews 6). God is not slack concerning His Promise. He knows what time it is, and at His Appointed Time He will release the Miracle Blessings for which He has prepared for His Chosen. But what we want to do is be expecting the Change. Not just a change in our external and situational circumstances; but a Change in our Inner-Being. Yes saints, God is getting ready to manifest a Supernatural Work in His chosen people. Unfortunately, not all of God's children are chosen (Matthew 22). But for those who are, who have taken the time to get prepared. For those who are, who have allowed the Holy Spirit to discipline them, and sanctify them, and consecrate them unto the Lord. For those who have aligned themselves with God's Perfect Will for their lives (Romans 12), Change is Coming. All we have to do is Hang in There. Satan is busy. But greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world (1John 4). It won't be much longer children of God. For in due season, Change is Coming.

Training Camp

If you are familiar with Football, then you are familiar with the concept of Training Camp. Every year, before the official season begins, every football team (professional football) holds what is called a Training Camp. During this Camp, all of the players who intend to play on the team come out to participate in this Camp. Not everybody who comes to the Camp, makes the team. Some people get cut. During the Camp, the coaches assess the ability of each player, to see if they have what it takes to make the roster. The Camp allows the players to develop their skills, and more than anything else, learn the techniques and methods that the coaches want the players to learn and for the team to execute. Training Camp ends when the official season begins.

The concept of Training Camp is applicable to the church and the Body of Christ. Many Christians are conditioned by the "stay busy" mindset of our digitalized culture. People have to always be doing "something". However, this is not the Way of God. Every now and then, instead of God having His people move, He has them to make camp. In other words, Be Still. Many of us have found ourselves in a season of "Camping". Not a lot is going on; personally, relationally, financially, ministerially, it just seems like things have been at a stand still, for an extended period of time. A lot of us, particularly if you're ministry-minded and service-driven, feel like something must be wrong if things aren't "moving" in your life. However saints, this assessment is incorrect. Part of God's dealing with His people is to have them Be Still and "camp" for a season. If this is the Season that God has you in and has "had" you in, don't be frustrated, don't be upset, and don't think that "something is wrong". Believe it or not, you're right where God has ordained for you to be.

In the Old Testament, when God was leading the children of Israel through the Wilderness, there were several times where He had them to make camp and just stay at a particular location for a specific period of time (Numbers 9). The children of Israel knew not to break camp until the Cloud lifted and God directed them to move forward. It's the same with His army today. God has a purpose in keeping you still for a Season. An apostle shared a message that Jesus gave Him where the Lord said, "The strength of the army that marches will be determined by the quality of its camp. When it is time to stop and camp, it is to teach My people My ways. An army is an army whether it is in battle or at peace. You must learn how to camp, how to march, and how to fight. You will not do any one of these well unless you do them all well." I pray that you have a productive Training Camp.

The Inspiration of ISIS

Have you ever wondered what is the inspiration and motivation of ISIS? On the surface it looks like its just acts of terrorism or the desire to inflict violence and fear. Other perspectives may portray political and even religious motivations. All of these are true to a very large extent. But there's an inspiration that ISIS has that needs to be duly considered by the believer in Christ. Part of the inspiration of ISIS is what I'd like to describe as "eschatological". This is a word that is derived from the term "eschatology" which is the study of the end times. Members of ISIS are not strictly motivated by political aspirations, there are spiritual and eternal motivations as well.


One of the fundamental beliefs of Islam (not just ISIS) is that at the end of time Muslims will rule the world. They have a "messiah figure" likened unto Jesus Christ named the Mahdi. One scholar on the teachings and ideology of ISIS put it this way: "the Islamic State is no mere collection of psychopaths. It is a religious group with carefully considered beliefs, among them that it is a key agent of the coming apocalypse...".  Why is this important? Because part of what's driving these so-called "radical Islamists" is a view of the afterlife. It's hard to shut somebody down when they feel their reward for killing is beyond the rewards of their temporal existence. Recently a pizza store owner was arrested for supporting ISIS in New York. When he made a statement on why he participated, his response was, "a person who helps or sponsors a fighter to engage in violent jihad obtains the same religious rewards from Allah as the fighter himself". I'm sure no one suspected this New York business owner of being a "jihad supporter". But because of his religious beliefs, he was predisposed to this philosophy.

Why is all of this important? Because it's suspicious to me how Muslims can be so on fire for their faith and their beliefs to either lay down their lives or risk their civil freedoms (going to jail) in order to support the cause of the worldwide expansion of Islam in preparation for the end times. Christians have been offered this same hope, but where's our fire, where's our sacrifice, where's our willingness to suffer in order that we may "reign with Christ" (Romans 8)? The hope of the believer in Christ is that if we are faithful to Him, when Jesus returns we will rule and reign with Him (Revelation 20). All that we do during this temporal period is supposed to be driven by the rewards we receive in Eternity (2Corinthians 4). However, such is not the case for the "mainstream witness" of the church. Maybe we should take a lesson from the Muslims and re-examine the status and commitment of our faith to suffer and die for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. We would do well to assess for ourselves the inspiration of ISIS.

Not the Same God

Recently outside of Chicago, a Christian college suspended a professor over her comments regarding Christianity and Islam. The issue arose when the professor chose to wear a hijab-the headscarf worn by many Muslim women-during the season of Advent as a show of solidarity with the Muslims for the negative response many of them have been receiving in wake of the recent terrorist attacks. However, when she decided to make a statement on Facebook in regards to her actions, this is what she stated: "I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God".

Let me state for the record: Christians and Muslims do not worship the same God. Let me say it again, Christians and Muslims DO NOT worship the same God. If you are a professing Christian and a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I implore you not to believe this lie. This is deception and a trick of the Devil. Do not believe it. Christians and Muslims do not worship the same God. If we did, do you think that Christianity would be outlawed in many Middle Eastern nations that practice Islam? You may say, well those are extremists; no they're not! Orthodox Islam (not just radical extremists) do not embrace the faith nor the tenets of belief of the Christian faith. Islam does not affirm the deity or Messiah-ship of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. They acknowledge Him as a prophet, but not as the Son of God.

But let me break it down according to the word of God. The Bible says in the first chapter of the Gospel of Saint John, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God". Then the scripture goes on to say in that same chapter, "and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us". The Word that became flesh was called Jesus, but the scripture already confirms that the Word was God; therefore we can scripturally conclude that JESUS WAS AND IS GOD. Muslims do not worship Jesus as God, Christians do. Therefore, we do not worship the same God.

Yes, Jesus is God the Son, He is not God the Father, that is Jehovah. But the issue is whether Christians and Muslims worship the same God. We as Christians worship Jesus as God, Muslims do not. Therefore, once again, we do not worship the same God. Saints please, I beseech thee, don't fall for this religious deception. What the Enemy wants to do is lull the believer to sleep and plant the seed in our minds of "oh yeah, it's ok, we all worship the same God". No we don't! Please don't fall for this lie. This is the groundwork of the Anti-Christ (1John 2, 1John 4). The Bible is clear, "one Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all" (Ephesians 4). It is Not the Same God.