The other day I had a very sobering experience. I was sitting in traffic at a red light, when all of a sudden, I started to feel really good. I had such peace come over me, and the warmth and freedom I started to feel was exhilarating.
I hadn't felt something like this in a long time and something inside me was saying "yes, this feels so so good". All the stress and responsibility of the day seemed to just disappear I was finally free.
The only problem was during this seemingly "religious" experience, my foot had actually come off the brake pedal and now 80,000 lbs. of truck was rolling towards the car in front of me.
I had fallen asleep. Thankfully God woke me up just before I hit the car in front of me and I was able to regain control and stop before hitting the car.
My job requires me at times to go without sleep and work extended hours or work through the night. This was one of those times.
God clearly spoke to me right then about the account in scripture, where Jesus asked his disciples "are you still sleeping?" This was one of the most critical times in history as Jesus was about to go to the cross.
Well here we are once again at a vital time in history and the temptation to sleep is overwhelming many.
Sleep in one sense is when the flesh finally gets it's way, unrestrained by responsibility the body can fully focus on self.
I believe selfishness is one of the great last day assaults that's currently taking many out of the will of God.
Even in some people close to me
I have seen an unbridled brazen selfishness rear it's
head and it's very disturbing.
The problem with the last day temptations is that they will just feel too good.
Much like the experience I had falling asleep, this same experience is happening to many in their spiritual life and I fear this strategy will continue to take out many.
God help us to stay awake, love of self is so dangerous because it feels so good. Normal Christianity is dieing to our self, this opens the door to real joy, peace, and satisfaction.
Are you still sleeping?
Trampling on serpents
The other night I had a dream I stirred up a nest of venomous snakes, one came after me and I was able to grip the back of it's head without it getting it's fangs in me.
I remember thinking in the dream, I need to get a better grip on this thing, but I also knew if I tried, it would probably bite me. It took everything I had to keep my grip and as long as I didn't let up, I was fine.
Well the next day, my wife, not knowing of the dream I had, shared Luke 10 :19 with me
"Behold I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Trampling on serpents creates a path to walk on, our enemies are suppose to be under our feet just like the Lords' are under His.
As we make this our lifestyle our authority will increase because this is who we are in Jesus. It's not arrogance or presumption it's called walking in truth.
Do not try to get a better grip. Do not go down the path of searching for another way, do not try to improve on the Lords strategy. Just learn to enjoy your supernatural life of victory.
"Nothing shall by any means hurt you" because our protection is found in dieing to self, and exercising (putting into use) our authority as a lifestyle.
God prepares a table in the presence of our enemies, I'll admit it's an acquired taste, but once you've eaten a few serpents religious food just doesn't taste the same.
I remember thinking in the dream, I need to get a better grip on this thing, but I also knew if I tried, it would probably bite me. It took everything I had to keep my grip and as long as I didn't let up, I was fine.
Well the next day, my wife, not knowing of the dream I had, shared Luke 10 :19 with me
"Behold I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Trampling on serpents creates a path to walk on, our enemies are suppose to be under our feet just like the Lords' are under His.
As we make this our lifestyle our authority will increase because this is who we are in Jesus. It's not arrogance or presumption it's called walking in truth.
Do not try to get a better grip. Do not go down the path of searching for another way, do not try to improve on the Lords strategy. Just learn to enjoy your supernatural life of victory.
"Nothing shall by any means hurt you" because our protection is found in dieing to self, and exercising (putting into use) our authority as a lifestyle.
God prepares a table in the presence of our enemies, I'll admit it's an acquired taste, but once you've eaten a few serpents religious food just doesn't taste the same.
Jesus just couldn't leave it alone
One of the things I love about the Lord is his willingness to unapologetically do His fathers will and speak the truth in love. I believe he wasn't purposely trying to be contrary or different for the sake of His own ego, but He was truly just being Himself in fulfilling His call.
He was a man, He had a masculine spirit. I believe this is one of the great assaults on our generation. Most Christian men today are in such confusion because they have bought the lie that a religious non confrontational passive feminine spirit is the Holy Spirit.
I remember growing up in religion and being nauseated by the religious passive culture surrounding me. Although this is no excuse, many today stay away from the church because this is still the norm in most places.
We are in a spiritual war, a passive feminine spirit will get you killed on the battle field. Many Christian leaders today have exchanged God's truth for a religious culture that in many ways is contrary to the life and teaching of Jesus.
Even in the prophetic main stream most of it is dominated by the passive non confrontational religious spirit that ran the religious system in Jesus day. Basically all talk and no action, many today define a religious spirit as a self righteous driven type of spirit that relies on works for salvation.
Although that is true to some extent that type usually finds expression through cults and false religion.
The kind Jesus hammered away at is what dominates many churches today. He said the leaven of the Pharisees is hypocrisy, not so much self righteousness. He said "do as they say but don't do as they do" (Mathew 23:3) He's called us to walk in maturity, walk out what we say we believe.
An over emphasis on worrying about "striving" is really just exposing how immature we are. Salvation is by grace, once you understand that, it's no longer about you or "your" salvation That's settled, now it's time to turn and think about helping someone else.
Continued emphasis on an anti striving campaign will eventually turn you against God in defending your selfishness and immaturity.
This is why our religious culture today is in such danger, because eventually it will turn completely away from the doctrines of Christ. It will actually be anti Christ and not even know it.
God help us!
He was a man, He had a masculine spirit. I believe this is one of the great assaults on our generation. Most Christian men today are in such confusion because they have bought the lie that a religious non confrontational passive feminine spirit is the Holy Spirit.
I remember growing up in religion and being nauseated by the religious passive culture surrounding me. Although this is no excuse, many today stay away from the church because this is still the norm in most places.
We are in a spiritual war, a passive feminine spirit will get you killed on the battle field. Many Christian leaders today have exchanged God's truth for a religious culture that in many ways is contrary to the life and teaching of Jesus.
Even in the prophetic main stream most of it is dominated by the passive non confrontational religious spirit that ran the religious system in Jesus day. Basically all talk and no action, many today define a religious spirit as a self righteous driven type of spirit that relies on works for salvation.
Although that is true to some extent that type usually finds expression through cults and false religion.
The kind Jesus hammered away at is what dominates many churches today. He said the leaven of the Pharisees is hypocrisy, not so much self righteousness. He said "do as they say but don't do as they do" (Mathew 23:3) He's called us to walk in maturity, walk out what we say we believe.
An over emphasis on worrying about "striving" is really just exposing how immature we are. Salvation is by grace, once you understand that, it's no longer about you or "your" salvation That's settled, now it's time to turn and think about helping someone else.
Continued emphasis on an anti striving campaign will eventually turn you against God in defending your selfishness and immaturity.
This is why our religious culture today is in such danger, because eventually it will turn completely away from the doctrines of Christ. It will actually be anti Christ and not even know it.
God help us!
Guilty or innocent
I've been concerned about the attitude of many Christians regarding the tragedy in Haiti. I've heard some declaring "this is judgement from God."
Others have quickly rushed to God's defense declaring "those were innocent people, God wouldn't hurt innocent people".
I don't know if it was judgement or not, that's not the issue I'd like to address. I believe God is exposing a dangerous mindset of many today.
Jesus exposed this same thinking in Luke 13 :1-5 "do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
We're all deserving of Gods judgement, it is a worldly mindset that thinks otherwise.
If we repent, if we believe on Jesus, we are free from judgement. We are free from damnation only because of the mercy and sacrifice of Jesus.
Unrepentant people are guilty before God and deserve damnation. If this offends us, it may be exposing a dangerous flaw in our thinking.
I know this messes with our human logic and emotion but if were not careful, we may end up shaking our fist at God someday along with the rest of the world, when His judgement and wrath are poured out in full strength.
This understanding is what should motivate us to truly love the lost. This revelation will bring us out of the sphere of religious talk where many live and teach, and into the harvest fields where Jesus said to go.
The coming wrath is certain, this is what were saved from. I know this is not popular teaching today, it sounds so religious and old fashioned.
Most of the doctrines of Jesus are coming under great assault as they always have. Jesus said in Luke 9:26 "whoever is ashamed of Me and of My teachings, of him will the son of Man be ashamed."
The current wave of deception and distraction is sadly taking many.
Let us with great humility, stay encouraged and focused on our King and the great harvest before us.
Others have quickly rushed to God's defense declaring "those were innocent people, God wouldn't hurt innocent people".
I don't know if it was judgement or not, that's not the issue I'd like to address. I believe God is exposing a dangerous mindset of many today.
Jesus exposed this same thinking in Luke 13 :1-5 "do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
We're all deserving of Gods judgement, it is a worldly mindset that thinks otherwise.
If we repent, if we believe on Jesus, we are free from judgement. We are free from damnation only because of the mercy and sacrifice of Jesus.
Unrepentant people are guilty before God and deserve damnation. If this offends us, it may be exposing a dangerous flaw in our thinking.
I know this messes with our human logic and emotion but if were not careful, we may end up shaking our fist at God someday along with the rest of the world, when His judgement and wrath are poured out in full strength.
This understanding is what should motivate us to truly love the lost. This revelation will bring us out of the sphere of religious talk where many live and teach, and into the harvest fields where Jesus said to go.
The coming wrath is certain, this is what were saved from. I know this is not popular teaching today, it sounds so religious and old fashioned.
Most of the doctrines of Jesus are coming under great assault as they always have. Jesus said in Luke 9:26 "whoever is ashamed of Me and of My teachings, of him will the son of Man be ashamed."
The current wave of deception and distraction is sadly taking many.
Let us with great humility, stay encouraged and focused on our King and the great harvest before us.
Persecutions are coming
This is one of the promises in the Bible that we rarely put on our refrigerators if ever. Well, we might as well go ahead and put it up there because it's coming and it's here. What is Jesus instruction in dealing with the coming and current persecution.
In Mathew 5 we're told to pray for those who persecute us and also to love are enemies. In Mathew 10 Jesus gives some practical wisdom concerning persecution.
The persecution we deal with is not yet physical, but mainly the attacks that come from the "man made religious system" of our day or the "politically correct" spirit that is gaining momentum on a worldwide scale.
Whatever name you want to give it is beside the point. The reality is, it's an anti-Christ spirit, it's aggressive and it is after you, your family, your aggressive faith and what you believe. If you are a true follower of the King it is pursuing you to injure you and cause you harm.
That's the bad news.
The good news is God's strategy for your life is not for you to put your tail between your legs and hide in the corner. The exhortation Jesus gives us is to BOLDLY PREACH FROM THE HOUSETOPS the message from the king.(Math.10:27)
We need to do it in our families, neighborhoods, cities and even in our churches. The assault on truth has gone unchallenged for to long. The time for apologizing for being a follower of Jesus is over.
There are only two kingdoms, the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. The time of the gospel is a very short season, let's spend it wisely. Harvest time in the light of eternity is a very short time which cannot be gotten back once it's gone.
Let's with cheerful courage boldly proclaim Jesus is king! Enjoy the fight, never quit, never give up, we can take the land!
In Mathew 5 we're told to pray for those who persecute us and also to love are enemies. In Mathew 10 Jesus gives some practical wisdom concerning persecution.
The persecution we deal with is not yet physical, but mainly the attacks that come from the "man made religious system" of our day or the "politically correct" spirit that is gaining momentum on a worldwide scale.
Whatever name you want to give it is beside the point. The reality is, it's an anti-Christ spirit, it's aggressive and it is after you, your family, your aggressive faith and what you believe. If you are a true follower of the King it is pursuing you to injure you and cause you harm.
That's the bad news.
The good news is God's strategy for your life is not for you to put your tail between your legs and hide in the corner. The exhortation Jesus gives us is to BOLDLY PREACH FROM THE HOUSETOPS the message from the king.(Math.10:27)
We need to do it in our families, neighborhoods, cities and even in our churches. The assault on truth has gone unchallenged for to long. The time for apologizing for being a follower of Jesus is over.
There are only two kingdoms, the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. The time of the gospel is a very short season, let's spend it wisely. Harvest time in the light of eternity is a very short time which cannot be gotten back once it's gone.
Let's with cheerful courage boldly proclaim Jesus is king! Enjoy the fight, never quit, never give up, we can take the land!
Truth in the hands of the people
The strategy of hell has always been to keep the truth out of the hands of the people.
The good news is, Gods strategy is to get the truth into the hands of the people.
Jesus said in Matt. 13 "he who hears the word of the kingdom and grasps it or "gets it" will be fruitful."
If this is true, why aren't more Christians "getting it"?
If Jesus said the harvest is ripe, why are most Christians not walking in fruitfulness?
I believe this kind of revelation is more caught than taught. The problem with to much teaching is that you can be ever learning and never quite "get" or grasp the truth.
This is why most pharisees couldn't catch it and it's why many believers can't catch it today.
There is a mindset in much of the religious world that believes, God wants to use the best, the brightest, the educated, the gifted,and the sophisticated to reach the world.
The only problem is Gods strategy is a little different.
Isa 26:5-6 says
5 He humbles the proud
and brings down the arrogant city.
He brings it down to the dust.
6 The poor and oppressed trample it underfoot,
and the needy walk all over it.
Isa 26:5-6
5 Those who lived high and mighty
he knocked off their high horse.
He used the city built on the hill
as fill for the marshes.
6 All the exploited and outcast peoples
build their lives on the reclaimed land.
God's army is made up of the humble, the outcast, the poor etc...
Without discipleship, truth tends to be used as a platform that breeds the "God only uses the gifted professionals" mentality.
Jesus imparted truth into everyday people. He said "follow me". Paul said, "imitate me as I imitate Christ". We learn by example, we catch vision by seeing it lived out in someone else. We are inspired to be courageous by hanging around people with courage.
Jesus warned of the leaven of the pharisees.
Matt 23:3-4
Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
Gen.Patton said "what the hell good is a commander who won't get shot at?"
The problem today is most religious leaders are to sophisticated for their own good. The "professional" although well polished and very gifted never seems to quite impart the simple fundamentals of the kingdom. Christian truth is best imparted by example.
Most Christians feel disqualified from doing the stuff because their only examples are gifted professionals.
I believe God's blowing a fresh wind of good old fashioned Holy Ghost discipleship.
Watch out kingdom of darkness, the poor, the outcast, the oppressed and the needy are about to victoriously trample your kingdom underfoot and walk all over it!
The good news is, Gods strategy is to get the truth into the hands of the people.
Jesus said in Matt. 13 "he who hears the word of the kingdom and grasps it or "gets it" will be fruitful."
If this is true, why aren't more Christians "getting it"?
If Jesus said the harvest is ripe, why are most Christians not walking in fruitfulness?
I believe this kind of revelation is more caught than taught. The problem with to much teaching is that you can be ever learning and never quite "get" or grasp the truth.
This is why most pharisees couldn't catch it and it's why many believers can't catch it today.
There is a mindset in much of the religious world that believes, God wants to use the best, the brightest, the educated, the gifted,and the sophisticated to reach the world.
The only problem is Gods strategy is a little different.
Isa 26:5-6 says
5 He humbles the proud
and brings down the arrogant city.
He brings it down to the dust.
6 The poor and oppressed trample it underfoot,
and the needy walk all over it.
Isa 26:5-6
5 Those who lived high and mighty
he knocked off their high horse.
He used the city built on the hill
as fill for the marshes.
6 All the exploited and outcast peoples
build their lives on the reclaimed land.
God's army is made up of the humble, the outcast, the poor etc...
Without discipleship, truth tends to be used as a platform that breeds the "God only uses the gifted professionals" mentality.
Jesus imparted truth into everyday people. He said "follow me". Paul said, "imitate me as I imitate Christ". We learn by example, we catch vision by seeing it lived out in someone else. We are inspired to be courageous by hanging around people with courage.
Jesus warned of the leaven of the pharisees.
Matt 23:3-4
Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
Gen.Patton said "what the hell good is a commander who won't get shot at?"
The problem today is most religious leaders are to sophisticated for their own good. The "professional" although well polished and very gifted never seems to quite impart the simple fundamentals of the kingdom. Christian truth is best imparted by example.
Most Christians feel disqualified from doing the stuff because their only examples are gifted professionals.
I believe God's blowing a fresh wind of good old fashioned Holy Ghost discipleship.
Watch out kingdom of darkness, the poor, the outcast, the oppressed and the needy are about to victoriously trample your kingdom underfoot and walk all over it!
Are we fitting in or taking over?
Jesus brought the kingdom of heaven to the earth. He demonstrated not only the power and love of God, but the possibility of a new breed of people who would not have to live bound by the deception and limitations of this world.
When he started His ministry it says "He began to preach repent the kingdom of heaven's at hand".
Turn from the influence of this world, be free from the desire for the things of this world, turn from dependence on the wisdom of this world, begin to walk and retrain your mind according to the kingdom of heaven.
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world".
"The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever".
Think about what was "in" a few decades ago, looking back now many of those things seem so goofy now. The styles and mindsets even the slang in our culture looking back seems so corny, but at the time the spirit of the world energized and anointed those things to keep people under it's influence.
The gospel never changes, go ahead and look back 10, 20, or even 2,000 yrs ago the kingdom never changes, it's eternal, truth never changes and our mandate never changes. I believe there will always be the temptation to try to "fit in" with the world. I'm all for being "relevant" but many times it seems in the name of being "relevant" were really just trying to fit in to the world.
The nature of the kingdom is that it doesn't fit in, it takes over, it changes lives, neighborhoods, and circumstances it's about time we as the church stop trying to be "like" the world.
Our message isn't a clever self help program, the bible says "turn away from people who have a form of godliness but deny it's power". Many today receive their help from the clever deception of the world more then the simple powerful truth of the scripture. We need to whole heartedly embrace a supernatural kingdom mindset if were to make it.
This world is not our home we need to live like were from heaven on a mission to bring the rule and reign of heaven to earth.
The other day on outreach to one of our tougher neighborhoods, we were getting ready to leave, on our way out, the car in front of us was stopped and the driver was having a conversation with a guy leaning in his car. It was obvious he wasn't in a hurry to let us pass.
A drug dealer came up to our car and being a car full of white people assumed we were looking to buy something. He asked us what we needed and we said " we don't need anything were just out preaching the gospel the car ahead won't let us pass."
It was like we showed him our ambassador Id's from heaven he shouted to the guy ahead something like "let them through their preaching the gospel"! The guy resisted at first but the dealer got louder, and louder, and with more authority told him to move it.
It was pretty cool, it really felt like we were in an ambassador motorcade. The truth is were not of this world, the glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
Were truly citizens of heaven, lets start acting like it!
When he started His ministry it says "He began to preach repent the kingdom of heaven's at hand".
Turn from the influence of this world, be free from the desire for the things of this world, turn from dependence on the wisdom of this world, begin to walk and retrain your mind according to the kingdom of heaven.
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world".
"The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever".
Think about what was "in" a few decades ago, looking back now many of those things seem so goofy now. The styles and mindsets even the slang in our culture looking back seems so corny, but at the time the spirit of the world energized and anointed those things to keep people under it's influence.
The gospel never changes, go ahead and look back 10, 20, or even 2,000 yrs ago the kingdom never changes, it's eternal, truth never changes and our mandate never changes. I believe there will always be the temptation to try to "fit in" with the world. I'm all for being "relevant" but many times it seems in the name of being "relevant" were really just trying to fit in to the world.
The nature of the kingdom is that it doesn't fit in, it takes over, it changes lives, neighborhoods, and circumstances it's about time we as the church stop trying to be "like" the world.
Our message isn't a clever self help program, the bible says "turn away from people who have a form of godliness but deny it's power". Many today receive their help from the clever deception of the world more then the simple powerful truth of the scripture. We need to whole heartedly embrace a supernatural kingdom mindset if were to make it.
This world is not our home we need to live like were from heaven on a mission to bring the rule and reign of heaven to earth.
The other day on outreach to one of our tougher neighborhoods, we were getting ready to leave, on our way out, the car in front of us was stopped and the driver was having a conversation with a guy leaning in his car. It was obvious he wasn't in a hurry to let us pass.
A drug dealer came up to our car and being a car full of white people assumed we were looking to buy something. He asked us what we needed and we said " we don't need anything were just out preaching the gospel the car ahead won't let us pass."
It was like we showed him our ambassador Id's from heaven he shouted to the guy ahead something like "let them through their preaching the gospel"! The guy resisted at first but the dealer got louder, and louder, and with more authority told him to move it.
It was pretty cool, it really felt like we were in an ambassador motorcade. The truth is were not of this world, the glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
Were truly citizens of heaven, lets start acting like it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)