Prayer to Please

How do we know if God is pleased with us? Upon whom does his favor rest?  To whom does his affirmation come?   Does it not come upon those who please Him?  Whose hearts are set to serve Him?   To those who do His will?

Will not the pleasers of men be disappointed?  Or will they be satisfied and assured by the praises of men?  Will they seek their affirmation instead?

Help me Lord! Lead me and guide me in your good and perfect will.  Let the meditations of my mind and heart be pleasing in your sight. Receive the prayers of your servant and help me in my time of need.  Show me how to pray and what it is that you desire.  My heart longs to please you.

The ways of man are empty.  Surely they are wasteful like a fruitless branch, vain in appearance and hollow like a dead tree.  But your ways abound with delight.  They are full of secret treasures and are solid like a rock.  May my hands do your work. May my feet follow in your will.  May my soul find pleasure in pleasing you.  Amen.

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Running with the Gospel

In Acts chapter 8, when the Spirit told Deacon Phillip the Evangelist to go and stay near the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch, he did not delay or simply make his way over, but instead “ran up to the chariot” just in time to hear him reading from the book of Isaiah.  How excited, how filled with the Spirit and anticipation Phillip must have been?  And especially when the Ethiopian asked Phillip to explain it!

Unlike two of the rock songs I grew up with, “Running on Empty” and “Running with the Devil”, and like the words spoken to Habakuk the prophet, “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so a herald may run with it”, Phillip ran with the gospel, not on empty but filled with the Spirit, and not with the devil but with Christ Himself, and was ready to explain the prophetic revelation so the eunuch might believe and be saved. This led of course to the eunuch being excited about becoming a Christian, and coming upon some water, he asked to be baptized. Then after, the Spirit suddenly took Phillip away and was found preaching in other places.

But how many of us delay, or even run away, from being a herald of the Good News of Jesus Christ?  How many of us would even desire to be so excited by it, that we would be ready to run with it too?  Perhaps it has become too plain to us that we need someone else to re-explain it all over again.  Then perhaps, like Habakuk and Phillip, our feet would become like that of a deer, excited to be on the heights that the Spirit takes us.

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Pursuing those Perishing

God so loved the world that He gave His Only-Begotten Son, that whoever would believe in Him shall not perish but have Eternal Life.” – John 3:16.  From this famous Scripture quote, we know God’s heart and the heart of the Gospel.  God demonstrated His love and withheld nothing, not even His most precious Son.  But then He entrusted the Gospel to His Church.  God did His saving part, so to speak, but then invited us, all who have received and believed the Gospel, to participate in the work of bringing others to Christ, in our time and until He comes again.  He is patient and hopeful because He wants none to perish.

Many in the world, as usual and expected, have no fear of “perishing” in the sense that they will be separated from God for all eternity, either because they do not believe in God or they believe that their current belief system is sufficient to avoid that state of eternal separation. The other problem is that many in the Church do not believe that other people will perish without a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ or we just don’t take that biblical truth serious enough.  Therefore, we are usually not compelled to preach the Good News because there is a lack of fear, or love for, those upon whom the Bad News of condemnation remains, as John 3:18 states.  The Church often avoids this and similar Scripture verses because of the weight of consequential responsibility of having read them.

If we the Church truly believe that other people will perish, the love of God in our hearts should move us to action.  But the Word also truly evaluates and states, “It is rare indeed for anyone to die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God proved His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  He spoke from the Cross, after doing His unique saving part which only He could do, “It is finished.” He proved His love for God and man.

Now the proof of the Church’s love is either seen or not seen by our willingness to do our part, or at least something, for those who are still perishing because they have yet to believe in God’s Son.  There has been enough said about this, but there has not been enough done, that is, by the Church, whose part remains unfinished.  We already know that God so loved the world, but I am not so sure about us, the Church.  There remains a call of upon the Church to pursue those who are perishing even as God pursued us.

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False Profits

There are some “in the Church” and perhaps outside, who would like to separate Jesus and the Gospel, because they would like “another”, that is, one more acceptable and likeable that doesn’t require “repentance and forgiveness of sins”, one that doesn’t cause separation between family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, the younger generation and peoples of the world with other beliefs.  They prefer a Jesus and a Gospel that brings peace and not a sword, one that everyone would have to like, one that is all inclusive and welcoming in such a way that doesn’t require anything from anyone accept an irresistible and popular acceptance.

Why?  Because than there would be no rejection, persecution, and cost to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their hope is that the numbers would increase in both people and payments to the more likeable church.  And so who does this profit?

Hence, they want to present a different Jesus and a different Gospel than the one that appeared and was made known and was preached before. They want to change or eliminate the demanding and challenging Words of Christ by their own presumed authority, perhaps out of felt necessity, in the name of a love that is separated from the truth. They are false prophets seeking false profits.  What will they exchange for souls?

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Voicing Out

“Preach the Gospel and sometimes use words” is a famous quote of St. Francis used by Christians to emphasize the command to love. It is a great quote rightly understood and applied, but can also be used to excuse disobedience to the apostolic command and repeated directive of our Lord Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel verbally, which is the intent of the command.  On one occasion, He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  In another place, He said, “Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached to all nations…”.  Even Paul told Timothy, “Do the work of an evangelist!”

Because there is spiritual truth in the words “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ”-  Romans 10:17, the Lord has specifically commanded the “voicing”, that is, the verbalization of the Good News of Christ Jesus.  It is to be proclaimed, heralded, declared, and spoken!  Again, “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, their words to the ends of the earth.” – Romans 10:18.  Words, by nature, especially God’s, are spoken and with purpose.  They do not return void when they are sent.

If the first apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers submitted to the phrase “sometimes use words”, they would have errantly and disobediently put the word of man over the word of our Lord and God. And where would the Church be?  It might be unheard of itself!  Because it is not in the wisdom of man that the Church finds its existence, but in the wisdom of God, even the foolishness of the preaching of the Gospel!   So, repent and believe the Good News!  Obedience to the Gospel and the command to preach it, using words, may seem unnecessary or secondary to some, but it is the wisdom of God and the primary means by which one is saved, when they believe the message spoken.  And as the apostle Paul affirmed in 2 Cor 4:13, “And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak….”

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Wrestling with Self

As I find myself wrestling with both God and man, I find that the largest struggle is with myself.  But this would make sense given that the key to victory is found in self-denial, whether towards God or my fellow man.  Not that I have Kingdom fellowship with every man, but the virtues of the Kingdom apply even when wrestling with the ungodly.  Since Jesus said, “I have overcome the world”, I have to consider how He accomplished this.  Victory could not have come about through earthly wisdom or power, but reliance upon who and what comes from above in relation to any opponent.

So, I find myself once again yearning for the ability to deny myself: in order to hear, trust, and obey God, bear what burdens God wants me to bear, fear not what God says not to fear, care for who and what God says to care, act and react as God and not man would expect or desire me to, and tear off what earthly soiled clothing remains upon me so as not to be so easily pulled down to the ground by any opposition, especially my self.

I pray Lord, for less of me and more of you, for it is in you that God and man has become One, and through you that the wrestling match is won. I struggle to see your face, to know my place, to receive and believe in your grace, and follow in the way of your Son.

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Departing from the Crowd

It is one thing to be a disciple of Christ in the crowd and another thing to be one who follows Jesus when and where He commands us to go.

In Matthew chapter 18, on seeing the large crowd gather around Him, the Lord decided to depart to the other side of the lake, commanding His disciples to do so.  This action drew out statements from some “disciples” in the crowd.  First a “teacher” proclaimed he would “follow Jesus wherever he would go” to which Jesus responded with a teaching of his own, simultaneously speaking of earthy and spiritual truths related to the cost involved.  Even if he started to follow Jesus, would he remain when he encountered the hardships?  Was Jesus truly the Master of this teacher?  Secondly, another disciple pleaded to “first go and bury his father” before following the one he called Lord, to which Jesus responded with a correction to put His love and command first.  If he went and buried his father, would he have ever returned when he encountered other family demands?   Was Jesus truly the Lord of this disciple?

The truth is, it would be wiser not to make vows to the Lord that we do not know if we will be able or willing to keep them, but instead quietly and prayerfully count the costs, so that any “yes” we do speak might also become a “yes” in action.  But better that we say nothing at all, so our “yes” won’t be a “no” because we don’t really know if we will go until we actually do so.   And then, if we do so, we can speak of the reliable promises of God!

So, don’t just be another one in the crowd!  Yearn and learn to become a true follower of Christ Jesus!  All God’s promises in Christ are “Yes” and “Amen”!

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Do Not Fear the Sword

I have not come to bring peace but a sword, but if you are afraid of the sword, what will you do when My house burns?  Will you fan the flames then?  So, I tell you, be strong and courageous and do not fear the sword.  Otherwise you will have no peace.

 

 

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Electric and Royal

As our house gathering continued to worship and pray to the Lord over and through the topic of Pentecost and being “clothed with power from on high” to publicly bear witness to Christ, a friend of mine had a vision of a sword coming down from Heaven with lightning bolts attached to the handle and a golden tip on the end of the blade.

We knew this sword represented the Word of God, which is also the sword of the Spirit, with the lightning bolts representing the awesome “electrifying” power of Christ, also projected in His future mighty return.  The golden tip on the sword represented the “royal command” to preach the Gospel, even now, in and with the power of the Holy Spirit given to us to do so.   As Peter said, “He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” -Acts 2:42.  And as Paul spoke, “Woe to me if I do not preach.” -1 Cor 9:16

When those called to bear public witness to Christ refuse to do so, they disobey the royal command and become a “blown fuse” in the Household of God, cutting off the surge of power from God that the Lord designed to flow through the House and out into the world.   While some might say, “we are afraid that the surge of incoming power without a fuse might burn down the house”, what they don’t understand is that God Himself can modulate His own power as needed and that the surge of power He supplies is designed to leave the House in order to advance the Kingdom of God.

When one acts like a “fuse” by refusing the Lord’s royal command and resisting the Holy Spirit, they blow the opportunity to see God’s Kingdom come in electrifying power.

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Earth Wind and Fire Contained

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

There was contact, and the fire spread.

When there is a forest fire, first there needs to be something to burn, before the wind and fire can do its work. Once ignited, a strong wind will cause the fire to spread rapidly, supplying oxygenated breath, fanning and driving the flames in one or more directions, and causing sparks to fly onto new sources of fuel as well.

Many of us Christians want to receive the breath and feel the wind, and even burn within, but we often won’t allow the Spirit to move and spread us out or cause sparks to fly, because we are afraid.  And so we resist the wind and contain the fire, that is the will and desire of God, even the Spirit.  As a result, the earth, wind and fire remain contained, even within the house.

So I pray:

Let the strong wind blow. Let the holy fire fall.
Don’t be afraid, but trust in His call!
Count it pure joy, and rejoice in the shame,
If counted worthy to suffer His name.

Be consumed with His love. Let it burn deep within.
Let the Holy Spirit move you, when to begin
To speak in a language that others have heard,
And tell about Christ, the Lord whom you serve.

Don’t be afraid!

Let the mighty wind blow. Let flames burn ‘n go
Don’t be afraid, to let people know.

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Divisions of Christ’s Army

Divisions occur not just between disciples and non-disciples but among disciples themselves; over pride, power, loyalties, theology, doctrine, practice, possessions, commitment, unforgiveness, and more.  The apostle Paul said these divisions should not be, but he also said that he was not surprised by them. He said, “No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.”

And of course, there will be differences of opinion over that statement and who it is that has God’s approval, but one thing all disciples should agree on is this; even while we “love one another” and “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bonds of peace”, ultimately, it is God’s approval that we seek, even the Lord Jesus, who is the Head of the Church and the Master of every disciple. It is to Him that we will have to give an account.

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Pivoting on the Emmaus Easter Break

Emmaus was a turning point. The disciples on that road were heading away from Jerusalem and away from believing that Jesus was the One they were waiting for, because he died on Friday.

They had seen his signs and wonders, and had heard his amazing teachings, but they did not understand. Though their hearts now burned again within them at His spoken words, they were still kept from fully knowing Him until He revealed Himself in the breaking of the bread, the act which still proclaims His death until He comes again.

It was then that their eyes were opened, and they pivoted in their faith. They returned to Jerusalem, believing in Him as the One they were hoping for, because He died and rose again. And this Jesus purposely revealed to them in this breaking of the bread in which He was truly present.

The truth is, without the resurrection, the Lord could not be fully known in this way, because if still dead, he could not be known in any way, and the meal would be a mere memorial with no life and power, which Jesus did not institute it to be.

Sadly, many Christian’s break fellowship on this point. So we pray, “Lord Jesus, be known to all your disciples in the breaking of the bread.”  Let us recognize you whenever and however you choose to be known.

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Modern Men and Total Docility

The over-sensitivity of “modern” politically-correct and softened men has led parts of the Church and society, to prefer submitted men who have “quiet and gentle spirits”- 1 Peter 3:4. The problem with this, is that this Scripture refers to women, who God prefers this way mostly, except for those He raises up like Deborah the Prophetess and Judge, in order to put timid men to shame. – Judges 4:8-9 .

If anyone challenges the “modern” Church and society with this problem, they are often met with an angry response that is neither “quiet or gentle”.  Interesting, how that works.

The Church and society needs servant men who can not only set up tables, but who can overturn them if and whenever needed, as well.  Because of and for this, God Himself has given the Church, men in particular, “not a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” -2: Tim 1:7,  which includes the transitive ability to moderate and admonish.

Is is important to understand that the “total docility” of men can be a dangerous dimension that also needs to be disciplined, as it has been before in God’s House, by men sent by God, and if necessary, a woman.

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Except the Apostles

We usually assume that when Jesus said, after the resurrection, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”, that Jesus was speaking only or primarily to the apostles.  However, when the persecution broke out in Jerusalem, it was everyone “except the apostles”, who were scattered into Judea and Samaria and preached the Word wherever they went.

The apostles remained in Jerusalem at first, as the primary witnesses in the spiritual core of the world, where Jesus’ death and resurrection occurred and the Spirit came down upon the Church, and to serve as an anchor of faith for the rest of the Church, standing firm in His resurrection in the face of death, because Jesus had given them many convincing proofs that He was alive.  The rest of the Church became the first witnesses everywhere else. This should affirm all those who know that they are called to be His witnesses in the power of the resurrection, as well as the apostles, even to the ends of the earth.

Go Church!

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Things Above

Last Friday, as I closely observed the dark stormy breaking waves and heavy rain-filled winds of Long Island Sound heading in towards the land, I was struck by the visual and associated perception of the dark powers and unrelenting earthly forces of evil at work in the world today that are both perplexing and overwhelming, and which is all most people can usually see because it consumes our natural vision.

Meanwhile overhead, when I looked up to the sky, I was surprised by the large movement of wind-blown lighter clouds heading in the exact opposite direction, seemingly revealing something else going on in the heavenly realm  that God was directing, but unbeknownst to the peoples and forces below who would be very surprised when its fulfillment timely appeared in the earth.  A small window-like opening in a wall of distance clouds revealed the presence of the sun and another simultaneous reality.

I was mesmerized, encouraged, thirsty to perceive what God was planning, wanting to know and even be part of it, trusting in His sovereignty and good purpose, even His past given victory. I was grateful for the perception of One greater with a greater plan and power than the one below, and was reminded that I should always seek the things above.

Later on Sunday, when sharing in the Scriptures about the pending Feast of Pentecost, the Lord showed how the people of Jerusalem, even the religious and those who recently murdered the Holy and Righteous One, were overwhelmingly surprised and perplexed by what God had planned all along. They expected just another usual Feast Day as if nothing had happened or would happen. The only ones who were waiting in expectation were the ones who Jesus told.

God is moving! If you not ready for what is coming next and what may have started already, then seek the things above!

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The Spirit’s Call

I don’t want to but I cannot help but want to, like Paul said,  “know Christ in the fellowship of his sufferings,  becoming like him in his death, that I also might somehow attain to the resurrection.”  I somewhat know what he means, as my soul is never satisfied unless I am united to my Lord in both, desiring even to be perfectly. I do not have a natural desire to suffer, but the Spirit of Christ within me beckons me to follow him further that I might also know him better.  Lord, I desire to do your will. My flesh resists but the Spirit calls. He leads me to the cross.

Jesus was made perfect by what he suffered. Glory to Jesus!  Keep calling Lord, that I might answer.  Jesus, I want to know you more.

 

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Let us Die with Him

In John chapter 11, the disciple Thomas’ fatalistic perception of dying with Jesus Christ in Jerusalem was based on his misunderstanding of what Jesus said “must” occur. From Thomas’ perception, it falsely meant the permanent end of life and the loss of everything promised including the new Messianic King and the establishment of the Kingdom of God, from which he concluded there would be no reason to live, so they might as well all die with Him.  He didn’t understand that first the Christ had to suffer death in order for new life and the Kingdom to arise, and that His death would not be the end of life and the loss of the promises, but instead was meant to bring about the end of death and loss of all things that could never fulfill the promises.

As Christians we must understand that dying with Christ, to ourselves and our old life of sin which leads to death, being buried with Christ in His death, is what clears the way for new life in Christ and the Kingdom within us, to arise! The Christian Faith is not fatalistic, but fulfilling of God’s promises through Jesus Christ, who died and rose again.  So let us “die with Him” that we may live again, and again!

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The Audacity of Christ

In the Gospel of John chapter 8, Jesus makes audacious claims about Himself and God His Father, including offending critical statements towards his Jewish brethren who are also claiming God the Father as their own God and Father.  In the heated exchange, Jesus not only declares Himself to be the One the Father sent, but speaks both “politically and religiously in-correct” when declaring that their father is the devil because they wanted to kill Him for His claims.  Wow!  Today, if Jesus was a “Christian” in America publicly witnessing about Christ in such an audacious way and fervor, he would be seriously accused of being an unloving narrow-minded extremist, religious bigot, and people would hate Him, again.

It is one thing for the world to struggle with Jesus’ seemingly audacious claims to be the Light of the World and the only Way to the Father, but unfortunately, there are those in the Church today who also struggle with the narrowness of Jesus’s Words and the boldness of His public proclamations, insisting on a more socially-politically acceptable approach to evangelism, which is hamstringing and in some-cases castrating the zeal of the Lord among His own people, replacing radical evangelism with religious ecumenism, quenching the fire and dulling the sword that was given to the Church, in an attempt to appeal to the more open-minded general public and perhaps the young who have been taught a secular globalist worldview and to seek a socialist or progressive utopia.  Such a witness, I believe is more compatible with universalism or the false notion that the various descendants of Abraham, i.e. Jews and Muslims, share the same faith, whose leaders meanwhile, make primary, distinct, and separate claims to God, denying His Son as the Holy One through whom they must now acceptably come to God, which was Jesus’ audacious claim.   For Jews and Muslims, the denial is expected, but for Christians, such a position is a denial of the Truth and a rationalized attempt to ironically avoid the cross in the name of Christ.

If Jesus Christ had the audacity to truthfully and purposely declare Himself as the Son of God the Father, the only Way Truth and Life, to others who also claimed God as their own,  especially His own Jewish brethren, then why would Christian’s be hesitant and timid to publicly declare Him the same to anybody, unless it is because we are afraid of suffering persecution for His Name or lack the secure identity confidence of Christ as sons and daughters of God His Father?   Jesus said, “My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. ” – John 8:54-55.  How audacious!

And yet, our having the same audacity to claim to know God and His Son, and declare Jesus Christ as the Way Truth and Life to those who presently oppose Him, provides those same hearers the same blessed opportunity we had to come to a saving knowledge of God through His Son, in order that they too might not perish but receive Eternal Life. Isn’t this what Jesus did?  Is this not the Gospel? Should we not also have such audacity in our love for our fellow man, if we really believe they need to be saved?  Let us pray!

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Choose Life or Death

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” – Deut 30:19

The nation is at a cross-road, and even the Church to some extent because it is divided, in relation to the intensification of the battle between good and evil, light and darkness, life and death, as it pertains to abortion, which is infanticide, even before the babies are born.  Where the nation sides, and which side prevails, will determine not only the life or death of millions of more babies, but the life and death of this nation as we know it.  The two are inseparable!   We will either choose life or death, as a nation.

The pivotal determinant of the outcome is the Church.  If the Church will not unite and advance on this issue to tear down and overthrow the forces of wickedness supplying, supporting, and sustaining the abortion industry, it will simply not occur. Not only that, but the heinous profitable murdering of the innocent will expand, and as their blood cries out to God, the land will be cursed and the nation, as we know it, destroyed.

There is no turning back.  There can be no let up.  There can be no middle ground. The time is now. Decisions have to be made. The battle can be won and will be won if the Church unites and chooses life.  Indecision will cost the lives of millions more babies and the death of a nation. The blood bleeds, but will the river run dry?

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” – says the Lord.

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Tongues in Time

Being a charismatic-pentecostal Christian (and evangelical and sacramental too) who prays-speaks “in tongues”, which is synonymous with praying “in the Spirit”, I am faulting and finding myself praying less in tongues in private compared to when I am gathered in public with the Church. I love to praise and pray “in the Spirit” even sing “in the Spirit” and go back and forth between my native English and my spiritual language when praying in public as I believe I am suppose to, according to the Scriptures, as Paul suggested in 1st Corinthians 14:13-17, 27-28. But I am being convicted a little that my prayer efforts “in the Spirit” in private have been waning in comparison when they should be growing, for the Scriptures also say that when we pray in tongues, not only do we edify ourselves with God and build up our own faith, but the Spirit intercedes for us in accordance with God’s will. WOW! Why wouldn’t we earnestly desire to pray in such a way when we know for sure that such prayer is in accordance with God’s will vs. praying in the uncertainty that we might be attempting to pray in our own will? Why not use the private time with God more wisely? This gift is God’s wisdom, which is why praying in tongues is such an important time to treasure and pleasure in – one that has us praying in agreement with the heart of God and Christ, who prayed, also in a language we could understand, “not my will but thine be done, so we might be edified too. So let all be edified in both times. In public, praise and pray in tongues but with interpretation too, but in times that are private, let your tongues be set on fire for God alone!

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A Sword of Incision

While meeting at an “interdenominational network” of pastors this morning, with whom I’ve been having fellowship with for the past five years, the Word of the Lord came to me while we were praying and worshiping the Lord, in the lower room of the building, and He said,

When I said “I have not come to bring peace but a sword” I did not just mean a sword the will cut into relationships, such as husbands and wives, parents and children, friends and neighbors, but a sword that also cuts into a man between his soul and spirit, for discernment and decision making; a sword that convicts a man of my will that he might also do it. And my will, whether I meet with you in an upper room like I did with the apostles, or in a lower room like I am with you now, is not for you to hide behind closed doors, but to go out and make My Salvation known to all peoples and to declare My Glory to all nations, the Glory of the One and Only-Begotten Son of God.

…And of course I could not stop shaking for a while. Let him who has ears hear.

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Following to Serve Not Ourselves

In Matthew 20:17 Jesus told his disciples, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for others”, as they argued about who was going to have the greatest position and power in the coming Kingdom. The fight broke out because Momma Zebedee and her two Thunder Boys created a storm when they asked Jesus about sitting on His right and left side, and the other ten became indignant probably because they had not asked first. Good thing the other mothers weren’t around! In response, Jesus instructed them all on the humble attitude they should preserve and the lowly position they should pursue, when following Him. The call to follow Jesus was not a race to see who would be first (that position was taken already), second or third, but who would become the last and the least among them. When we follow Jesus in order to secure for ourselves a high position in His Kingdom, we show that we have miss-learned what it means to be his disciple and we distance ourselves from the heart of the man, the Son of Man, who is the true Servant of the Lord. When we serve for selfish reasons, we lose out, because we are really following the world.

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Jesus the Leper

After Jesus healed the leper in Luke chapter 5, He circumstantially exchanged positions with the leper who was previously forced to dwell in lonely solitary places due to his leprous condition, which classified that person as unclean and not permitted to be near other people, not just because of the possible contagion, but also because of his likely facial appearance, having been covered with leprosy. At first the leper had to hide his face from everyone, but now Jesus did, after the healed leper disobeyed Jesus and told everyone about the healing. The healed man’s disobedience caused Jesus to suffer in lonely place outside of town, like one afflicted and stricken by God, in this case, with leprosy.

For Jesus, this was a preview of the cross he would have to bear. He exchanged places with us on more than one occasion.

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The Battle Within

The battle within is more important than the battle without.  When my heart, mind, and soul are right with God, I know it.  I know his peace, joy, contentment, and all in those moments, but nowadays there is a fire burning within that doesn’t allow me to settle even for all the fruit of the Spirit.  Why?  Because the fire is not quenched and the fruit is not reproductive unless I do His will!  And so because there are so many distractions both within and without, sin that so easily entangles and things that hinder, the battle goes on, and I find myself wanting to draw closer to my Lord and God who is my everything.  I know the answers are found in Him and that as I fight through all that is engaged in my heart, mind, and soul, that I will find what it is that I am looking for, which in the end is really Him, because He is my love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  It is He that I desire more than anyone and I know for sure that “that” is His will.

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Praying for the Pastor’s Protection

When Jesus was troubled, he asked his disciples to pray with him,  even for themselves.  (Matthew 26:38-41)

Yes, because the leaders of the Church have been given the greatest burden of responsibility, much good is dependent on them. Therefore because of their critical role, they require or should be afforded the most prayer, not by any one person, but by the many together out of necessity and understanding.  If “many hands make light work”, then surely many prayers make sense for the one who bears the larger burden.

Yes, the devil prowls about looking for one to devour which is often the weakest one, but often it is the greatly burdened pastor and/or his family, who have become the most vulnerable or the most targeted.  If the enemy of our souls can successfully strike the shepherd, then the many sheep will scatter and much more will be achieved with one blow.  If the shepherd is helped by the prayers of the many people, to remain faithful and able, then the weak ones among the many should find protection as well.

The Church must take seriously the call to pray for the protection and strength of those who have been placed over us, even for our own protection.

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Welcome

Praise the Lord Jesus and Welcome to Kingdom911.

I hope and pray that you will find this site edifying to your mind, encouraging to your heart, and  uplifting to your soul. May the Lord give you insight and revelation and inspire you through faith in Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to be a glorifying and profitable servant of the Most High God and His Son Jesus Christ.

One of the reasons for putting up this site was because I felt challenged by the Lord to be more bold in my public witness and not hold anything back, also rejecting a false humility that I believe has prevented me from being who I am more fully called to be.

Another reason was because I was tired of having disjointed and disconnected social media accounts and websites, as well as thoughts on differing topics, so for management reasons of consolidation and streamlining to bring it all together somehow, I completed this task.  I hope that you will find it beneficial to your souls and service of our Lord.

Be Blessed!

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Good News!

The Greek word euaggelistēs is translated “evangelist”.  An “evangelist” is a preacher of good news or a bringer of glad tidings, and has its roots in two words meaning “good” and “angel” which also gives us a deeper understanding of the purpose of an evangelist, which is, to be like a messenger sent from Heaven,  i.e. “I bring you good news of great joy…” announced by the angel of the Lord in Luke 2:10.  It is interesting to note that Holy Scripture tells us that we will be like angels in Heaven.

For those of us called to be evangelists on earth now, we are to still reflect and fulfill that Heavenly created purpose when we “do the work of an evangelist”.  Too many “evangelists” are not glad but mad, and are bearers of bad news vs. good.

The first one to preach the good news in the New Testament was Jesus himself, although he wasn’t called an evangelist.  But, when Jesus first announced why he had come to his first group of hearers in Nazareth, when he began his public ministry, the first role listed on the job description that the Father had anointed him for, was “to preach good news to the poor” in Luke 4:18.  Let this always be the heart of anyone supposedly called to be an evangelist, since the poor do not need to hear any more bad news.  They already have enough of that.

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A Flying Firepot

So as I was worshiping on the Lord’s Day, last Sunday in the back of the church, a vision came to me….

I saw a black firepot with flames burning out the top, flying in all directions across the face of the earth, wherever the Spirit of the Lord took it, and then it came towards me, and there was in the pot were burning coals, and I asked the Lord what this meant…

And He said, “Wherever you step and wherever you stand I will place burning coals before you under your feet so that wherever you step and wherever you stand will be holy ground, when you go where my Spirit leads.”

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Prophetic Prayer

The Church needs to reject a spirit of timidity when it comes to prayer and mission, which are intrinsically connected.  Like the prophet Jeremiah, the Church has a prophetic role, starting via prayer, to “uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow, to plant and to build”. Even the prayers of one “righteous man” avails much, and the prophet Elijah held back the rain for 3 years.

So, why isn’t the Church more bold and believing when it comes to changing the environment through prayer?  I believe because of a passive and timid spirit contributing to a lack of faith!

The Church needs to stop making childish excuses and mature in its prophetic call over the nations!

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Becoming Peter

In Luke 5, Peter is referred to by Luke as “Simon” but uses “Simon-Peter” to mark the beginning of the change, the extraordinary moment when Simon is overwhelmed by Jesus’ “catch of fish” miracle and Simon becomes open to the call upon to become the man Jesus said He would make him to be in John 1:42, that is Peter.  This happens when Simon is struck with the reality that Jesus is more than he thought He was, and he moves from respectfully calling Jesus, “Master-Teacher” to “Lord”, which is a prerequisite to follow Him.

When were you first struck with who Jesus really was and  how did it open you to His call to you?

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