Reformation is it our only Hope?

Just how powerless is the Church in this hour?  When you think about what is influencing our nation and the culture that we live in do you think of the Church as having a say in that?  To be honest I don't see it.  The Church in America has instead of being a conquering warrior minded organization with the blood bought power of Christ flowing through our veins we instead our the ones who like to bury our head in the sand and hope the next time we pull our head up out things will have changed for the better.  Guess what that doesn't work.  The Bible teaches the following in James 2: 17-26, "
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The Church must take action and invade the mountains of influence in our society.  Education, media, business, and politics are just a few areas where believers must invade and take  the gospel of the kingdom of God into these realms so that reformation of these areas can begin.  Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:13-16,
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We are called to be salt and light to our generation.  Which is why in this hour God is calling spiritual fathers and mothers to mentor the millennial generation.  I believe God is wanting to use the millennial generation to change America and the world for Christ.  The Bible says the following in Psalm 145:4, "
One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts."

Has my and your generation done just that.  Have we praised and declared to the Millennials all that God has done so that they have an example to follow after and than develop their own relationship with a supernatural God who desires to use them.  Church it is time for us to declare the goodness of  God in the our past and in our now so that the Millennials can run with  the most High and declare His goodness to all they are called to reach.  The Millennial generation is the one who is positioned to go into the mountains of influence but we must be able to give them the power of relationship and connection that we have with God to help them run the race.  They have the strength but we as spiritual fathers and mothers have the wisdom that they need so they don't end up like the young prophet whose ax head fell in the water and could do no more work without it.  It wasn't until the old prophet Elijah came and ask the young prophet where the axe head fell that he was able to get the axe head to swim up from the bottom, Elijah's relationship with the God of the supernatural, that once the axe head was retrieved the young prophet was able to finish the work he started by reattaching the axe head to the axe handle (2 Kings 6:1-7).  

Church let us mentor this Millennial  generation and bring them into the fullness of  relationship with the living God.  As we do transformation will come and the Kingdom of God will manifest as was foretold by the prophets of old.  It is time for reformation.  Let it begin with us and the Millennial generation.

Hearing the Voice of God

When it comes to being led by God one has to be able to hear His voice.  Now the question that most of us have to deal with is whether or not are we hearing Him or are we being led by our own selfish desires or the voice of the devil.  These are the only three voices that one can be lead by, but we must be able to discern which one is which if we are going to be able to do the will of the Father God in the earth.

I have wrestled with this on my own because there has been many a time when I thought I heard God and then it didn't turn out the way I thought it would.  Or I have not done what God has said to me because of fear.   How does one know the voice of God?  For one God will always speak something that lines up with His Word.  If what you are hearing from God doesn't line up with the Word of God than know that it is not God.  If there is fear involved in what you are hearing, there is no peace in your heart about what God is saying to you, it is not God.  Will God ask you to do something outside your comfort zone?  Yes, He will.  Why?  Because He is wanting you and I to walk in the one thing that God responds to which is faith.  If you are able to accomplish what He is speaking to you in your own strength and resources it is not God.  God is wanting to stretch you and I to become more like Jesus, which means He is going to ask us to some things that we could not do without His help.

When it comes to hearing the voice of God don't make  yourself out as a failure because you have missed Him.  Remember Abraham?  He got a word from God about being the father of many nations and after waiting patiently for many years not seeing it come to pass him and Sarah tried to make it happen in a way that God  did not intend and Ishmael was born.  God forgave them and when the time was right the child of promise was born.   So just keep developing that relationship with Christ and do has He leads and as you draw nearer to Him and know Him even better you will also get to know His voice much better as well.  Because, " His sheep know His voice, and a stranger they not follow".  It is time to draw near to God.  We must know His voice so that we can fulfill the plan that He has for us.  Will you join me in this?

Arm of the Flesh versus being Led by the Holy Spirit

As I have walked with the Lord during my new venture into the Southern part of our nation God has been speaking to me about my current job and how I took it as result of fear and not trusting in Him to provide for me and my family.   This is called the arm of the flesh because it is when someone tries to do it their own way instead of the way God intends.  In my current position I have been cut off from spending the proper time connecting with the people God wants me to be connected with.  I have been working long hours which does not  allow me to spend time I need with those God called me to.  I have been isolated from people contact which is one of the main things that I  know I am need to have so I can continue my marketplace ministry.  I have found the work to be drudgery.  This is when you know you have made a wrong turn.

I feel like  Jonah when  he was called to go to Nineveh.  When he got the call he did not embrace it but ran away from it.  I received a call from  God  to  come to where I currently reside, but instead of waiting on the Lord I got out in front of Him and now I am wrestling with the consequences of my decision. I have spoken to the Lord and have repented for my mistake.  Much like David did in Psalms 51, where he confesses his sin in  regards to Bathsheba, so I have poured out my heart to God about where I am at.  I know that He heard my cry and now I have to reset myself and wait upon Him to show me where to go next.  To often we as believers get excited about what God has spoken to us and we do have a tendency of running out in front of Him.   Then we must suffer the consequences of that action.  God is merciful.  I have been given another chance.  Walking by the Spirit is not easy.  It is the best way for all of us, but we do  have a tendency of  listening to  others  and their opinions before going to God with the issue at hand.

I believe that I will get to  where God wants me but it may be delayed because of my decision that was made in the arm of the flesh.  Much like Abraham and Sarah did when trying to get a son for an heir another way than what  God intended they ended up creating an Ishmael.  Ishmael will rob you of your intended future.  Keep the number of  Ishmael's you generate to a minimum and you will know that you are being led  by God's Spirit.