Saturday, December 29, 2012

unified hearts

Genesis 11:6 (AMP)
"And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them."
Later today we will be attending our first staff meeting at our new church. As with any firsts there is always a bit of wondering of what's going to happen, not worry just wonder. Honestly I actually have a sense of anticipation I keep thinking about the staff meetings they had in the book of Acts, in chapters 1 & 2 they came together with a unified heart and the Holy Spirit came with power and launched them in a new direction. This happened again in chapter 4 "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage."
So my prayer for today is that we all come together with unified hearts and that the Holy Spirit has His way and we have a great time of fellowship in the midst of it all.

Monday, December 10, 2012

fulfillment

The end of Genesis 11 has a part of Abraham's life that generally tends to be skipped over, but when you read it in conjunction with the beginning of chapter 12 it sheds light on the heart of the Father and Him making possible His promise and purpose for our lives.
Genesis 11:31-32 "One day Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai (his son Abram’s wife), and his grandson Lot (his son Haran’s child) and moved away from Ur of the Chaldeans. He was headed for the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there. Terah lived for 205years and died while still in Haran."
You see Abram had been put on the path to Canaan by his earthly father, but for whatever reason he only went part way and settled. Unfortunately for Terah he died in the place where he settled, without fulfilling the vision he had for where he and his family was supposed to go.
Genesis 12:1-4 "The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran."
What I see in this promise that Abram received from Abba is that if you follow Me and go where I lead you not only will I bless you, I will bring you into the land that your father desired but could not obtain. I will bring you into your land of promise and destiny.
Lord God I thank You that You are a fulfiller of promises and You are not only the redeemer of our souls but also the redeemer of visions and goals that we are unable to reach on our own.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

A season to make a stand

You know it seems like every year around Christmas the protests against public displays of Christianity and the birth of Jesus seem to increase. Unfortunately this isn't something new the first apostles came under attack for healing a guy in the name of Jesus. The thing is today many Christians hold themselves some pity parties and pick up offenses and essentially this gives the world a win and the church becomes ineffective.  What we need to do is follow the example set by the apostles. They stood their ground, refused to deny Christ, gave testimonies about what happened which turned into a worship party prayer meeting that so pleased Abba that He shook the house they met at and refilled them with His Holy Spirit.

So in this Christmas season we need to not stand down to those who complain and protest, but we need to stand up so they know that we truly believe in our Lord and Savior and instead of picking up offenses or retaliating for their attack we need to lol for opportunities to show them Abba's love and bring healing into their lives.

Acts 4:18-22 "So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years."

Saturday, December 8, 2012

no obligation

There are some things that tend to irritate me when talking to some Christians, you know the ones that walk around beating themselves up because they are horrible sinners and are unworthy of anything. In their eyes their previous sinful nature is stronger than the freedom they have received through Christ. What they don't realize is that attitude and teaching is not only contrary to Scripture, it is contrary to Jesus, Himself.  They in essence are denying the work He did on the cross.
Colossians 3:9-10 "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,"

We need to remember that He gave us the ability to be "New Men" no longer obligated to our pre-Christ ways.  Sin only has as much power in our lives as we allow it. It doesn't. Mean we won't ever struggle or need to work through stuff, but when we recognize Jesus' victory over sin and death in our lives it makes it that much easier when temptation comes.
I also believe that religious leaders that teach contrary to God's work and word, that keep people chained to the si  side of the cross need to have a "rod and staff" experience  so not only their people but themselves can receive the freedom in Christ that He has provided.
It's time for the whole Church to get up and walk in the freedom and power that was intended for us. Thank You Jesus for providing the way.
Romans 6:16-23 "Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."

Thursday, December 6, 2012

benefits of obedience

Anyone that spends time with me at some point will here me talk about the importance of our not only being obedient but being quickly obedient to the Father. Doing this brings us joy, keeps us from sin and helps us (including young people) to stay pure.
Psalm 119:1-12  "Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me! How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, OLORD; teach me your decrees."

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Measuring up

It is sad and weirdly appropriate that this Scripture seems to be standing out on a Sunday morning. It is a harsh reminder for us to check our hearts and motives. When we are at church today we need to not compare ourselves to others neither putting ourselves above others nor to be jealous of others because of their gifts or positions. We need to remember that we are on a level playing field each with our own purpose and gifts. And there is One that we should desire to be like that is Jesus. We measure ourselves to Him not in a way that sets us up for disappointment and failure in our own eyes, but in a way that when we look down at the footprints in the sand we see that we are in perfect stride with Him we are going where He is and we are doing what we see Him doing. When we do this what others are doing doesn't seem to matter as much but what you will notice is the condition of their heart, you will see the hidden treasures that Abba has placed in them. You will be able to prophecy to those treasures and breath life into them and then you can watch and see the Holy Spirit do His work in them. What a gift it is to be able to see them grow and transform from the inside out!

James 3:13-18 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

The B-I-B-L-E

One thing that I have noticed since becoming a Christian is that most Christians love anagrams WWJD, FROG and many others. When I was reading this Scripture this morning one of these anagrams popped into my head, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Then after I started thinking about I came to the conclusion that the anagram really does the Bible disservice. When I read that I think this is something that will just get us by 'til the end comes and if I figure out the basics I might make it through, kinda like I just got the Cliff notes. It is soooo much more than that. The Complete Guide For Everything Of Importance In Our Pursuit Of A Relationship With Abba And For Expanding His Kingdom By Following Christ, doesn't make a very good anagram and still doesn't explain the fullness of what it is we have available to us especially when we ask the Holy Spirit to breath on it and give it life as we read it.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

An example for generations

Stephen is one of my Bible heroes, above all things he was recognized as a man "full of God's grace and power". I think that is a description we should all desire. In one of my Bible college classes we had to write what we would want written on our headstones when we die, I don't remember what I wrote but am guessing it had to do with being a good husband and dad (which is still appropriate). But I think now having been known as "a man full of God's grace and power", would encompass that and more. What do you want to be known for? What is legacy you are leaving for future generations? Are you living your lives in a such a way that 2000 years later some one says "I want to be like this guy"?

Acts 6:8-10 - Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

Monday, November 26, 2012

...that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation...

This was very encouraging to me this morning. It would seem that in the season that we are in there is a theme of growing in understanding, spiritual wisdom and revelation. Not that wasn't needed before or even sought after before, but I feel that Abba is leading us deeper that as we move forward in the coming seasons that we need to understand the deep things of Him. We need to realize though that we can't gain this deeper spiritual wisdom simply by just reading your Bible, or having morning devotions or just by praying. It comes from a combination of these things and more its developing your relationship with Him becoming completely open and vulnerable, it means that you need to completely change your lifestyle so that as you go through your everyday life you are walking in step with Abba, you are listening and obediently responding to the prompting a of the Holy Spirit. You don't easily and quickly pickup offenses, but you quickly forgive and keep a short list of accounts of what others have done to you or owe you. He wants to demonstrate His power in and through us so that we can partner with Him in the expansion of His kingdom.

Ephesians 1:17-19 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength...

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving reflections


Isaiah 12:2-5: See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! In that wonderful day you will sing: “Thank the Lord ! Praise His name! Tell the nations what He has done. Let them know how mighty He is! Sing to The Lord , for He has done wonderful things. Make known His praise around the world.

Today is a day that most of us come together with family and friends to celebrate a day of Thanksgiving. For some today will be about seeing how much turkey and pie can be eaten followed by watching football and hanging out. For some today is a lonely day they are away from friends and family for whatever reason. I encourage you today to reach out to anyone you may know that may be alone on this day of togetherness call them, stop by invite them along to your gatherings.

For many today is a day that many including myself take some time to reflect on the things that they are thankful for. Honestly with how greatly blessed I am the list would be too long, but the highlights are that I have a relationship with the Creator of the universe that has adopted me as His son and I am able to call Him Abba (Daddy), I have a wonderful wife and family including my amazing grandsons, I have wonderful sisters, nephews, nieces, aunts and our spiritual sons and daughters too. And last but not least on this "short" list is the new church family that Abba led us to. As you can see I am truly a blessed and wealthy man.

I want to encourage you today to take some and reflect but more importantly reach out and love someone bless them with kindness let them know they are not alone.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Source of Wisdom

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments . His praise endures forever. (Psalms 111:10 NKJV)

Wisdom is something that just about every culture I have heard of holds in high esteem. Some cultures and religions have made wisdom an idol there are even "christian" churches that will put wisdom above the things of God. Don't get me wrong wisdom is important, in fact words of wisdom are one of the gifts from the Holy Spirit. What we need to recognize is that there is a huge difference between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom that comes from God. We need God to breath on things to show us the true meanings to give us true understanding. Many look to those that are older to glean their wisdom but for many of them all there is to offer is just life experience and knowledge. But if God does not breath on these experiences they are just that, but when He does breath on them it brings life to the experience that brings wisdom. One definition of wisdom is knowing what to do with the knowledge that you have gained. Knowing something with out knowing how God wants you to apply that knowledge is like reading a do it yourself book and without doing what you were instructed you might be able to quote what the book says but until you actually do what it says have you gained the wisdom to really know how it works and comes together. God wants us to be wise in Him not just have knowledge of Him, He wants to give us understanding of Who He is and how much He loves us in that you will find true wisdom.
Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite said, I am young, and you are aged; for that reason I was timid and restrained and dared not declare my opinion to you. I said, Age should speak, and a multitude of years should teach wisdom [so let it be heard]. But there is [a vital force] a spirit [of intelligence] in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives men understanding. It is not the great [necessarily] who are wise, nor [always] the aged who understand justice. (Job 32:6-9 AMP)

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Have an awesome day with Jesus and the family today!

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21 NASB)

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Coming in the opposite spirit

So this morning I thought it would be good to wrap up Romans 12. I think for many Christ followers these verses are some of the hardest to live by, partly I think because we think that we have a responsibility to ourselves to standup to and defend against those who do us wrong, hurt us, lie about us and curse us. Many times we give these folks way too much or our head space and time. We had a special speaker at church last night one of things he said was "that he would much rather count his allies than his enemies." I personally have been a big fan of coming in the opposite spirit, these verses are a prime example of how that works. When you continue to bless and be nice to those that are trying to come against you it confuses them and ultimately it gives you control over the relationship. When you allow them to suck you into being negative and defensive you are giving them control. In Matthew 5 Jesus says "“But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." He isn't telling us to let others beat us or to be whipping posts, He is telling us to not let others (especially the evil ones) to control our reactions. Even though in the natural we could probably really hurt them, if we turn it to the spiritual and bless them the natural will be overcome.

Romans 12:14-21 - Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief]. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.

Friday, November 16, 2012

It's all about love

In case you were wondering Jesus wants us to love one another, take care of and support one another. We as the church should present a united front of love regardless of denomination or social status. I believe there is a significant reason this passage talking about love is follows the list of gifts and different parts of Christ's body. Every member needs to love and be loved for how and who Abba made them to be.

Romans 12:9-13 - [Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good. Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another. Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord. Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of God’s people [sharing in the necessities of the saints]; pursue the practice of hospitality.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Romans 12 part II

Ok so it's time to get back to Romans. In the first 3 verses we saw that Gods will is that our minds be transformed to be aligned with His and not with the worlds. Now lets look at verses 4-8. This first part of this addresses that we are all one body in Christ and just like in your bodies each part of the body has its own function and each of these functions is necessary for the body to function as designed, we need to find our identity in the body and fully embrace it and not try to be something we weren't designed to be. Sometimes when we are finding where we fit we may experiment and try to be other things but once we identify our place in the body we need to be the best at what we were designed to be and need to stop being something we are not.

In the New Testament there are three lists of gifts, the two we hear the most about are the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12) and the gifts that Jesus gave to the church (Eph. 4:11,12) which is referred too by many as the 5-fold ministry. Here in Romans we have the third list which are the gifts that come from the Father some call these our redemptive gifts, essentially these gifts are how He made us to function in our everyday lives. These gifts define who we are and how we fit in the body. So wether you are a finger, an ear or an elbow fully accept how He made you. Abba doesn't make mistakes He has a plan and a vision and a mission for you and when you function per His design these things will be fulfilled and so will you.

Romans 12:4-8 - For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Love is not divisive

So this morning my plan was to continue on in Romans 12, but I ended up reading 1 John 3. As I was reading this I kept having a thought; "I know that everyone calls 1 Corinthians 13 the love chapter, but about this one?" So then I had to go read that chapter (I know there could be worse rabbit trails, right?). At first I was thinking well one is Paul's love chapter the other John's, but then thought that was divisive and God's love isn't divisive. So I looked at each chapter for their message. Corinthians connects love with the gifts and the heart of how we function in them and also gives a clear description of what love is. Then in 1 John 3 it shows how we should live and treat others and our obligation to love as children of God and as a response for what Jesus did for us. So now you see that His Word is complete it doesn't divide or separate among His body it all works together to give us a clearer complete picture of His love and how we are to live and function in it.

I John 3:22, 23 - And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Time to sing and give thanks to Abba

Isaiah 12 just seems so appropriate for the day. Time to sing and give thanks to Abba for all He has done and to share our current testimonies. What is God doing for, in and through you? Remember Rev. 12, our testimonies are part of what defeats the enemy.

Isaiah 12:2-6 - Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song; yes, He has become my salvation. Therefore with joy will you draw water from the wells of salvation. And in that day you will say, Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name and by means of His name [in solemn entreaty]; declare and make known His deeds among the peoples of the earth, proclaim that His name is exalted! Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done excellent things [gloriously]; let this be made known to all the earth. Cry aloud and shout joyfully, you women and inhabitants of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Feel free to comment and share so others faith can be strengthened.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Time to decide

So have you ever gone to read one verse in the middle of a chapter and end up reading the whole thing? Don't worry even though I was tempted to I didn't copy the whole chapter. But I think I might break it into chunks and dig into it a little.

Romans 12, falls into the specific instructions for living the life of a Christ follower. The chapter starts by telling that we need to decide to dedicate our entire selves to God, He doesn't force us to but His desire is for us to be fully in relationship with Him. In the times that I have been able to minister to others and ask them what they need and they say "I want to know the will of God for my life". Here it tells you that God's perfect will for your life is that you don't let your mind be conformed to the ways of the world but to have it transformed so that it is in alignment with the mind of Christ. This transformation comes from deciding to set yourself apart and investing yourself and your time in Him. Paul also gives us a warning here, he tells us not to let ourselves get cocky and conceited in our abilities. But he also doesn't tell us that we need to be self effacing either. We need to have a clear vision of who He has created us to be, recognize that He is the source of our abilities and have a confidence in both of those.

Romans 12:1-3 AMP - I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Thank You Jesus

So church this last Sunday was very encouraging to us not just because we feel very welcome there but because of the direction things are going. I never thought I would see a Sunday morning (traditional style) church be so open and interactive allowing the saints to minister to each other being guided by the senior leader (apostle) in such away that it kept on track without manipulating the flow to reach a predetermined goal. I'm super glad that Abba directed us here He is stirring stuff up and there is a group of folks here willing to be stirred. This Scripture in Hebrews pretty much sums up our gathering this last Sunday and what was talked about.

Hebrews 10:19-25 NLT - And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Breaking down the walls....

There are many times when God starts moving and stirring stuff up that people in the church will start clinging to the traditions of "we've all done it this way it must be right way". Fear of change opens the door for a religious spirit to come in that will try and block the change the God is provoking. When we stand on the law that denies the moving of faith in what Abba is doing we deny the grace provided to us through Jesus. Abba is up to something, He is causing a stirring that is provoking some much needed change not only in our country but more specifically in His churches. You will be able to recognize those who belong to Him because they are faithfully following Him, doing what they see Him doing, going where they see Him going and saying what they hear Him saying. They are leaving the walls of religion behind and are no longer held back by the traditions of man. Ultimately they will be recognized because they are spreading His love and His kingdom is expanded wherever they go!
Galatians 5:4-6-If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God’s gracious favor and unmerited blessing). For we, [not relying on the Law but] through the [Holy] Spirit’s [help], by faith anticipate and wait for the blessing and good for which our righteousness and right standing with God [our conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action, causes us] to hope. For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.

Friday, November 2, 2012

No longer obligated

So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the LORD your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the LORD who makes you holy. Leviticus 20:7, 8 NLT

So one of the things that really frustrates me is people that say that they have accepted Christ as their Savior yet deny all that He has done for them. They walk around saying that they are still lowly sinners and the have no worth, and that is a lie straight from the pit of hell. You are either a Christ follower that is saved by grace, that has been made new or you aren't. Jesus would not tell us to be holy as He is holy if we could not do it, He does not contradict Himself. We however can contradict Him if we choose to believe our old dead flesh has dominance over the new hearts that Christ has given us. I'm not saying that we will never struggle with things of the past, I'm saying that we have been given victory over those things and we are no longer obligated to engage them. So walk in victory as He intended you too, set yourself apart for Him and see what happens.

1 Peter 1:13-16 NKJV Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Shining the Light

We all have a message that we carry sometimes without realizing what we are conveying to others. As Christ followers are message needs to be one that brings Light and life. Too many times we let the world around us change our message to one that lacks hope and causes us to speak death into others and to situations. Solomon told us that "life and death are in the power of the tongue". I'm not saying it always easy but we need to make the choice to let His Joy shine through us despite our circumstance, that shining light attracts others they desire the light. But if we show negativity, are hopeless, if we gossip and back bite then we repel others, except maybe those thrive on those things. If our testimony is more moan than glory we need to make some adjustments. I want to be more like John the Baptist I want to show the world something different, something that breaks the walls of religion and tradition. I want my testimony to be one that reflects the Light of Jesus. How about you? John 1:6-9 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

an everlasting Rock

You know sometimes no commentaries are needed. I love that His Word stands on its own, that it teaches and encourages. Yay GOD!!!! And thank You!!!
Isaiah 26:3, 4. You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Battling Differently

When there is an impending battle we need to prepare ourselves to engage, to fight. But when we battle our strategy has to be different our method of warfare atypical. You see we have a Mighty God who goes before us, when we engage Him instead of our enemy He brings victory. Our battle gear is different our armor becomes garments of praise and worship we put on our priestly attire to enter in to His presence. Our weapons are not iron and cold steel but guitars and drums and other instruments of praise. And He loves us so much that even though He goes before us and gives us the victory He also gives us the spoils of war. He blesses us with abundance and peace. Man we serve an Awesome God!!!!
2 Chronicles 20:20-30 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established; believe and remain steadfast to His prophets and you shall prosper. When he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy [priestly] garments as they went out before the army, saying, Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were [self-] slaughtered; For [suspecting betrayal] the men of Ammon and Moab rose
against those of Mount Seir, utterly destroying them. And when they had made an end of the men of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. And when Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked at the multitude, and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none had escaped! When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the spoil, they found among them much cattle, goods, garments, and precious things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry away, so much they were three days in gathering the spoil. On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah. There they blessed the Lord. So the name of the place is still called the Valley of Beracah [blessing]. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat leading them, to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies. They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres, and trumpets to the house of the Lord. And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest round about.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Are you willing?

This morning I read through Genesis 22:1-14 and 1 Samuel 1:7-20, both of these Scriptures have stories that show incredible faith, fear and utter dependence on Abba. First you have Issac being brought to the altar to be sacrificed by his father Abraham taking what was a fulfilled promise from God and being willing to fully give it back to Him. And you know that Isaac remembered the obedience of His father throughout his life and passed that legacy to his children. Then you have Hannah that in her grief and belief of what God is capable of doing dedicates her yet to be conceived son, after being barren for years, to be a nazarite, one who is set apart for The Lord. Just like how Sampson and John the Baptist were set apart pre-birth. This son was Samuel the great judge and prophet who anointed David as king. Are you willing to take the fulfilled promise that you have obtained or even the one that you are presevering to obtain and lay the on the altar or be willing to give Abba full control of them even though it means they are taken out of your hands?

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

If you seek Him....

This Scripture seemed very timely this morning with the overall state of our nation, the upcoming elections and even disunity between various denominations. We truly need to seek and move closer to God especially now we need to seek His heart and direction for upcoming elections we need to vote not based on party line or race or who is the best speaker, but on who is holding up the strongest Biblical values. And our churches need to get beyond their barriers held up by traditions of man and start rebuilding on the structure of love and relationship that was established by Jesus and the early apostles. If we aren't loving each other we are not preparing the way to present Gods kingdom to the lost. They are to know us by our love not our division.
THE SPIRIT of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. And he went out to meet Asa and said to him, Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him, craving Him as your soul’s first necessity], He will be found by you; but if you [become indifferent and] forsake Him, He will forsake you. Now for a long time Israel was without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law. But when they in their trouble turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and [in desperation earnestly] sought Him, He was found by them. And in those times there was no peace to him who went out now to him who came in, but great and vexing afflictions and disturbances were upon all the inhabitants of the countries. Nation was broke in pieces against nation, and city against city, for God vexed and troubled them with all sorts of adversity. Be strong, therefore, and let not your hands be weak and slack, for your work shall be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:1-7

Monday, October 22, 2012

My Source

FOR GOD alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be greatly moved. Psalm 62:1, 2. Notice this says "For GOD" alone, not my parents, boy or girl friend, not husband or wife, not my pastor but GOD alone. He is my source the others are hopefully a support system along the way that is pointing me toward Him, encouraging me toward a more intimate relationship with Abba.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Time for a work out

Sunday our generally accepted day to go to our spiritual gym. But just like if we are working out physically to get in shape and stay healthy if we only do it one day a week we aren't gonna see a lot of progress, especially if the other 6 days we don't do anything to support and build on what happened on the one day we showed up. If our spiritual training is also limited to 1 day a week it's no wonder we don't see much progress in our growth. We need to be stretching and strengthening our spiritual muscles (being) constantly so that we can obtain fully the victory that Jesus provided for us. 1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Wait and Listen

Sometimes you have to just share the whole chapter :-). Aren't you glad that the God we serve is a great leader that desires great things for us and has a plan that is bigger than us but His desire is for us to be a partner in that plan.

Isaiah 55: WAIT and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come,buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing]. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy]. Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David. Behold, I have appointed him (Him) [David, as a representative of the Messiah, or the Messiah Himself] to be a witness [one (One) who shall testify of salvation] to the nations, a prince (Prince) and commander (Commander) to the peoples. Behold, you [Israel] shall call nations that you know not, and nations that do not know you shall run to you because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you. Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while He may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while
He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have love, pity, and mercy for him, and to our God, for He will multiply to him His abundant pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall
not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out [from the spiritual exile caused by sin and evil into the homeland] with joy and be led forth [by your Leader, the Lord Himself, and His word] with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name of renown, for an everlasting sign [of jubilant exaltation] and memorial [to His praise], which shall not be cut off.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Guard my mouth

This should be a regular prayer for those that follow Jesus: Psalm 141:3, 4 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Promises for a new season

I'm totally taking this Scripture as we go into this new season: Isaiah 41:9, 10 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Living differently

Ever wonder what the will of God is for you? He wants you to live differently than the world does, because we have been freed from the entrapments of the world. We need to change our thinking so that for us it is "on earth as it is in heaven" we don't have to be like them to build relationship with them it is up to is to live out an alternative that is attractive to them, not the opposite.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

swords and manhood

I know this is pretty crazy two blog post in the same evening.  But I just had to share this too.


In much world mythology the sword first has a positive meaning: a person’s ability to be discriminating and decisive. The sword helps a man separate his feelings from the issues at hand. It helps him name and maintain appropriate boundaries. A man with a sword knows who he is and who he isn’t, and what is worth protecting.

The sword has also borne a negative meaning, killing and death. Spiritually speaking however, it’s necessary to kill or at least distinguish the dark side, the small egocentric self.  Also for a man to be born, boyhood and “keeping all my options open” must die, and this is painful especially in a culture that encourages perpetual adolescence. So even in its negative sense the sword can become a symbol of the healthy warrior and an expression of his spiritual side. ~Fr. Richard Rohr

“It is a good day to do great things.”...again

This is partially a repost from last year, but it just seems fitting for today being fathers day. First of all I want to thank my dad, there are many things that I learned from you but two things that really stand out are how to fight and work hard despite how you felt or what your circumstances were. I also want to thank the other fathers that I have been blessed with through the years the ones that spoke to the treasure that Abba placed in me and called out the warrior I was meant to be. Thanks and blessings to you all, wouldn't be what and who I am today without you. And I especially want to thank Abba for creating me to be a man of purpose and for revealing His incredible heart to me so that I can share it with others.

A few years back I was recommended a book written by a Fransican Monk named Richard Rohr. He has an incredible grasp of the spirituality of man and how it works in the supernatural realm we are supposed to live in.  Here is a quote from one his books:


According to legend, the Great Plains warriors would say to their sons first thing in the morning, “It is a good day to do great things.”  If we can’t say something like this, we will not experience the quest.  We need this kind of desire and expectation…  We to allow our souls to be stirred by a magnificent ambition – something that makes us jump out of bed in the morning that calls us to be some kind of hero in our own kind of story, even if we know we have more than one tragic flaw. ~Fr. Richard Rohr
It's time to have our inner hero awakened and set free to do what he was destined to do.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Forgiveness


Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]. Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].  ~Paul in his letter to the church in Colossae

The other morning God and I were talking about forgiveness and the dangers of unforgiveness.  There were a couple of people in my life that were brought to mind that have a tendency to hang on to unforgiveness. Many times you can see the tendrils of the root of bitterness that grows out of dormant unforgiveness, offenses are picked up without even realizing they are there and these feed that root. 
One of the key things that He was showing me was that forgiveness needs to be unconditional, just as He forgives us we need to forgive others.  When we do something and we go to Him and ask for forgiveness, He doesn’t say: “No, I’m not ready yet” or “I need to process it first” or “My feelings are still hurt so you have to wait until I feel better.”  1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And in Romans 5:8 Paul says: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

When you look at how we were forgiven and the lack of conditions that are set upon us to receive forgiveness from Jesus, it sheds a whole new light on what it means to die to self.  We are called to demonstrate and be a reflection of His love and to pour out the same grace and mercy that poured out on us.  He demonstrated His love by dying for us on the cross so that we could enter back into relationship with Him. Sometimes, we need to set ourselves aside, are to live by faith and not be feeling.  Our feelings while valid will lie to us and keep us from doing what we are supposed to be doing.  I’m sure if Jesus let feelings be His compass when it came to forgiving, we would all be in trouble.  But imagine if He let feelings guide His ability to forgive on the day He went to the cross.  He is hanging there nailed to the cross beaten and bloody and the guy hanging next to Him recognizes Him for who He is and asks to be remembered when He gets to His Kingdom.  Jesus didn’t say “you know I have had a really bad day today, they took My clothes, pushed this crown of thorns down into My head, beat Me and nailed Me to this cross.  I really don’t feel like forgiving you for your sins right now, I think I’ve had enough for one day.”  Instead He turns to him and says “Surely this day you will be with Me in paradise.”   Jesus didn’t say: “I need to heal some first, you know you are part of the reason I’m hanging here, or I think you need to suffer in your guilt for a while.” He said, “I forgive you.”
I think that one of the things God was showing me in this is that forgiveness and healing are two separate processes.  Forgiveness is not dependent on healing; however, healing is fully dependent on forgiveness.  Forgiveness is a key to release healing, sometimes miraculous healing, but definitely complete healing.

Some say that “time heals all wounds”, in fact I used to say that too.  But I don’t really think that is true anymore.  I do believe that sometimes healing can take some time to complete and that with time pain subsides making it easier to get through the healing process.
But when we leave wounds unattended or un-dealt with then what we usually end up with is an ugly mass of scar tissue.  This scar tissue gives the appearance of healing that happened, but the underlying wound starts getting infected and festers.  This wounded area becomes tender and sensitive, sometimes when its touched it causes you to lash out because the pain returns and the memory invoked brings you back to the original time of being wounded.  What happens is this underlying gunk will eventually want to find its way out. Sometimes that manifests itself in something ugly like cancer or some other life stealing disease.

I have an example of this; a few years back I was working with wood and got a pretty nasty sliver in my hand.  I dug in and got what I thought was the entire sliver.  After some time the areas healed and I didn’t think about it much, but every once in a while I would hit that area on something and it would hurt a little. Being the tough guy I never really wanted to address what was causing the pain just kept going knowing it would stop soon.  After a few months, I had a growth start on my hand it looked kind of like a wart.  I figured that was the source of the discomfort having forgotten about the sliver.  Again being a guy as this thing kept growing and becoming more obnoxious I started digging at it with my knife to see if I could get rid of it.  Then I noticed at the center there was something that looked different than the skin around it so I started to squeeze and out popped a chunk of wood and a bunch of pus.  I proceeded to properly clean the wound and now you can’t even see a scar where it happened.  I had come to realize that my body knew that chunk of wood didn’t belong in my hand and since I hadn’t dealt with it properly, it rejected it and forced it to the surface.
That’s what happens with us when we allow offenses, hurt feelings and unforgiveness to lay dormant in us.  It starts to fester and our spirit knows it isn’t supposed to be there and will do things to bring it to the surface, but usually don’t want to deal with it so we let more scar tissue build up.  Then it crops up as something else, and many times the source of it is never found, because we spend so much time trying to find physical means to bring healing to spiritual wounds.

There are two main keys to getting healed:
1.       Forgiveness – Remembering that we don’t forgive out of feeling, we do it out of obedience following the example and model that Jesus gave us.

2.       Being open and vulnerable to the Holy Spirit. We need to allow the Great Physician to come in and do His job.  We need to let Him do whatever needs to be done to bring about complete healing.  Sometimes with old wounds that can be painful.  It can involve cutting away the old scar tissue or dead skin, maybe re-breaking a bone to have it set properly and made functional again. Sometimes in this process He will use other people to help, guide and support you.  But the deepest cleaning happens when you let Him go as deep as He needs to go to get at the root, to bring complete and total healing.


Monday, March 26, 2012

Who's the Judge anyway?


I had a vision while I was reading a book called “TheUltimate Treasure Hunt”, by Kevin Dedmon.   The author was talking about how Jesus came to serve (minister) and to provide forgiveness and healing.  In the vision I was preaching to a crowd, not sure where.  I was admonishing the church, telling them that they needed to love the prostitutes, and that the gay and lesbian communities needed to be reached with love.  As I was sharing I got the sense that the people in the crowd were getting angry and offended at what I was saying.

Then I saw a picture of the church setting up its own throne and judgment seat in front of Jesus.  The judgments that came from the fake throne were spoken from a spirit of religion and provoked hatred, a spirit of fear was the driving force behind the whole thing.  The throne was situated so that anyone that tried to enter The Throne Room was blocked by the fake throne and people were denied access to Jesus.   I then saw Jesus on His Throne and he was grieved by the false throne and that no one was making it to Him and He wept.

In 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 the Apostle Paul is giving instruction on immorality, the people in the church were turning their judgment to those outside of the church, yet Paul’s focus was inside the church.

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

In verse 11 Paul explains that anyone that is named brother, in other words anyone that is a part of the church, that participates in these things that you should not have fellowship with them, in fact he says to not even eat with them.  In my opinion this would be reserved only those that persist in this behavior not first time offenders, I think ultimately we should work toward restoration.  Paul lays this out to protect the people from being drawn into the same behavior.

12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?

Paul says that it isn’t even his job to judge what is outside the church, but we do have responsibility to judge what it is in the church.

13 But those who are outside God judges….



In Matthew 28:19 Jesus instructs us:  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

And in Mark 16:15-16: And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

We cannot “Go make disciples of all nations” or “Go into the all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” if we are sitting in judgment of those we are called to reach.  We are called to demonstrate His love not judgment.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (AMP): But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).

We so easily forget where we came from and the love and grace that was shown to us. It is not that we need to remain strapped to our past, but we do need to have memory markers showing where we came from.  We should never forget what was granted to us.

Another thing we need to look at is our discipleship process.  This process needs to be more about helping believers develop a deep personal relationship with God.  It should be more about learning to hear God’s voice, finding your identity in Him, being quickly obedient and accepting of discipline that comes from Jesus.  It has nothing to do learning about spiritual laws, qualifying for nursery duty, guilting others into service or propagating a judgmental religious spirit.

When we look at the world outside the church too many times we have a viewpoint of it is US vs. THEM.  Which brings us down to a level below what we are called to, we forget that we are victorious and He has authority in all things.  Instead we need to look at the basics of God’s heart and why He sent Jesus for us.

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

God’s Desire: That the whole world be saved because of His love of His creation

The World’s Condition: Broken and full of sin and sickness, because of broken relationship with God caused by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

God’s Solution:  Jesus, the final sacrifice for our sins, the mender of our relationship with Abba

Church’s Condition: Creating worldly structures driven by a spirit of religion to invoke fear in the hearts of the people in the church and keeps those that need Jesus the most from being able to see Him, know Him and be able to receive His love.

God’s Solution:  A great shaking that will remove these structures from their foundations, so that their foundations will be exposed. The churches that truly have Jesus as their chief cornerstone and built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Eph 2:19-22), they will remain intact, but the others are going to need to do a remodel, they are going to need to go back to the basics and to do so under attack and persecution like Ezra and Nehemiah faced when they rebuilt the wall and the temple. But only those that receive a mandate from The King will be successful, the others will fall away because of the devastation that all they thought they knew and were building was exposed as a lie. It will then be up to the saints that have a strong foundation to reach out to these broken ones and bring restoration and the truth.