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. 

God's Way or Else?

I am now in the midst of a drastic changes in my life.  I have moved out of my former state to another part of the country to seek God's plan for me and my family.  It has not been easy for I have been married for several years and left all to come to this place, but it is not by my choice I believe that this is where God wants me.  I have been reading 1 John and came across the following scripture that has made me really think about where I am and I thought it might be helpful to all of you who will read this.

The scripture that I want to speak about is 1 John 2:15.  It says, " Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."  Have you really thought about what Christ is saying here.  If we love the world or the things in this world we don't have God's love in us.  What God is saying is that He wants to be first in our lives.  If we have things in this world system it is not wrong for us  to own them that is not what He is saying here.  God is wanting us to make sure that He is first in our lives.  He wants to make sure that we are willing to give up anything He may ask us to surrender to those in need, which we would be able to do because we have His interests in our hearts first and foremost. Christ gave up everything to come down to earth(2 Philippians 5-8).  How much more should we be willing to follow His example.  By not letting ourselves get caught up in what the world has to offer may our attention be upon what God's kingdom has to offer.  After all Christ told us to not store up treasure here in the earth, but in heaven(Matthew 6:19-20).  Does that mean we should not have material wealth?  No, God wants us to prosper and that means having our needs met along with having more than we need so we can help our fellow brothers and sisters and those who are outside the covenant see His goodness.  For it is the goodness of God that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). How does one express that goodness?  By being a channel in which God is able to bless others through.  Remember we are His hands and feet.  We follow His directive because Christ is the head, but He can't accomplish what He is wanting to do if we don't move to where He wants us.

That is why I am here.  Christ has led me to this moment in time to come to the Southeast and here I am.  Now I must continue to seek Him, but He is ordering my steps, because as a follower of   Christ that is what we must do if we want to see what He has for us.  Are you ready to follow  after Him?  Are you willing to lay everything down to see Him use you?  Don't let the devil use fear to stop you.  Know that God has got you and as you walk with Him He will lead you to the green pastures that you are seeking, He will prepare a table of plenty for you in the midst of your enemies, His rod and staff will protect and guide you and when you look back you will see that goodness and mercy have been following you (Psalm 23).  Care to join me on this adventure?  You won't be disappointed.

Witchcraft in the Church?

I have to be honest when it comes to the topic of witchcraft most of us think of it as something that has to do with the Occult or with Halloween or a Harry Potter movie, but the truth of the matter is that the spirit of witchcraft is something that can also infiltrate a body of believers.  How you may ask?

Witchcraft is a spiritual power that seeks to control those it can by manipulating situations and or people that may not recognize its influence.  How do Christians fall under its influence in either using it or submitting to it?  What Christians do that use the spirit of witchcraft is they will try to manipulate those they are trying to control to either submit to their ideas or beliefs on a topic that forces the other person or group involved to be like them.  The Spirit of Christ is never one to force one to do anything.  Christ will draw a person and will offer them the opportunity to do what the Spirit is leading them to do, but it still is the individual's choice.  Some believers I have encountered have tried to say that if someone doesn't what they are wanting them to do that they are being disobedient and need to be disciplined for not acting on what they perceive is the best path for them.  This is witchcraft in operation.  

In the story of the prodigal son the Father knows that the son who becomes the prodigal knows that the choice that they are making is the wrong one, but does He discipline the son, does He try to stop them from doing what they want to do with their life? No.  Because the Father knows that for the son to understand what he is doing is wrong he has to travel that path on his own.  Did the Father disown the son when the son realizes that he can come back to work for his Father?  No the Father actually runs to his son and greets him and throws a huge party for him, because the Father has a love for his son that goes beyond what he has done, he loves him because he is a part of the Father's family.  

The lesson we need to learn here is that we should not let the spirit of witchcraft run our lives whether we are on the giving or receiving side of it.  We need to make sure our motives are pure and let us influence others by showing them the love of God which is truly the best way to help influence those we care most about.  For I rather have people respect me and listen to me and know that I truly care about them and their life choices than to be an individual who dictates to them how things should be and have them turn their back on me with very little hope of reconciliation.   As the Bible states in Deuteronomy 30:19,  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.  Choose life Church.

Fear versus Faith

When it comes to the walk of faith in God the biggest enemy that we all face is fear.  I am a true believer that fear is a reciprocal of faith.  The enemy will attempt to place fear in one's heart about anything that we are not sure of.  Whether it is a job change, a relationship that we want to have or about anything that we are faced with a decision that moves us out of our comfort zone fear will try to move us into a place where we will just stand still and do nothing.  Fear binds a person.

Faith on the other hand requires action.  If God is leading you to go and do something that is beyond your comfort zone He will show you a step but you must be willing to take that step to find out what the next one is.  Faith is not trusting in the situation that you are faced in and what you may have in resources or in the amount of people you may know, it is based in a relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  God wants us to trust Him.  After all the Bible declares in Hebrews 11:6, "That without faith it is impossible to please Him, for we must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him".

So when you are faced with a situation that you are not sure of don't let fear gripe your heart.  For fear is the devil's version of faith.  Use your faith in God and His word to guide your steps.  Step out and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit of God.  If you make a mistake admit it to the Lord and He will get you back on the path that you need to travel on.  Don't be a person like Abraham's father Terah who left for Canaan but stopped short of the promise land and settled in Haran(Genesis 11:31-32).  It is not time for us to settle for less than what God has promised.  It is time to possess our promise land in God and to bring the Lord's Kingdom into the earth.  For it is time for faith to arise.  Let us walk with God seeking Him and doing as He says.  As we do we will conquer fear and experience a new level of knowledge and experience with God that we would not otherwise.   

Is the walk of faith easy.  No, but those of us who want to experience the best that God has will take this challenge and experience what the word of God says in 1 John 5:4 " For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."  Let us be over comers in Jesus name.  

Destiny

When I think of destiny I have to wonder, like many of you do, just what does God mean when it comes to fulfilling it.  I have been a follower of Christ now for nearly 31 years and I am amazed at what is happening in my life right at this time.

When I first got right with God it was during the late 1980's and the network on Christian television to watch was PTL or Praise the Lord Network led by Jim and Tammy Bakker.  This ministry was based in Fort Mill South Carolina and during its height of glory was the second most visited place in the United States, second only to Walt Disney World.   I always wanted to visit this place when I was in my early 2o's but did not have the time nor the resources to do so.  Eventually this ministry fell apart as Jim Bakker was accused and convicted of booking more hotel reservations than what the PTL could fulfill and Heritage USA was eventually closed down.

Nearly thirteen years ago MorningStar Ministries bought the place and began to restore Heritage and have also founded a church there that is very prophetic and cutting edge on how to conduct itself as a body of believers.  Most of the believers that attend this church come from all over the United States to be a part of it, and now  me and my family are being called to this place of worship.  The Lord has brought me full circle in the fact that  a place that I loved called PTL that was dead and buried has been resurrected and is thriving.

In my own life I have experienced some of these very things.  I have been to the mountain top in God and I have been in the valley. But God has brought me through quite a few things over the years only to call me from a place where my prophetic anointing is not well received to a place where it is not only allowed but is encouraged.  I have seen dreams that I have pursued die before my eyes only to wonder what really does God have in mind for me.  I have felt the call to minister God's word and the Lord spoke to me years ago that I was not to be a typical pastor, and that I would have a prophetic unction on my life.  But what does that look like?

I tried pursuing the typical pastoral path only to see my dream snuffed out time and time again.  After being quite frustrated by all of this I finally began to embrace my workplace as my church and once I did that I began to experience satisfaction and fruit from my efforts.  But now that door is closed and God has led me back to my past to embrace my future.  It is the same as when God spoke about Jesus dying for our sins before the world began.  God has a plan.  As I prepare to leave my home state for Fort Mill I don't even know the why of what God has called me to.  All I know is that He has called me and my family to move to this place called MorningStar or die where I am currently at.

I don't believe this to mean that I will die physically but if me and my family don't go we will not experience the destiny that God has intended for me and for them to experience.  Destiny is a funny path.  All I know is if you want to find and experience it you must do it by placing your faith in God and acting upon the instructions He gives you.  The road ahead of each one of us is not always clear and sure.  But with God you can rest assured that He is with you and that is all you need when it comes to fulfilling His plan and destiny for you.