The Prophetic Mantle Thursday, Jan 7 2010

Prophets, the prophetic mantle is not given for us to glorify ourselves, or to make a name for ourselves, but it is given by God to the Glory of God. True prophets are not to magnify their gifts, but to magnify God and to be examples of Christ’s love and affection for his people.

We Prophets, are the mouths, eyes, and ears of the Lord. We hear the spirit, we see in the spirit, and we speak from the spirit of God; NOT from our intellect, or our own knowledge. We must never operate from our own emotions or feelings, but strictly from the presence and power of All Mighty God. We do not prophesy based on our feelings nor correct in our own anger, but embrace the total persona of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our spirits must never be unruly, self willed, or proud, but we must personify all the fruits of the spirit. We do not collect God’s people, but we direct the people to God and we never ever speak or prophesy anything the Lord has not spoken.

True prophets do not charge or take gifts for their prophesy, as this could persuade to speak the will of the people; instead of the will of God. As some have done and became the mouth of people, instead of the mouth of God.

The Mantle of the Prophetic is not given until the spirit of the prophet has been broken. The prophet can never have his/her own mind, thought, or wisdom. He/she ceases to exist as themselves, and become totally the property of the Lord. They must never be driven by their own desires, hopes, or dreams. They are only the Lord’s. We take our assignments from the Lord, we can not take an engagement without the permission of the Lord. We are not in a popularity contest, but on assignment to complete the work given by the Lord himself.

Prophets, we are to respect the Mantle the Lord has placed on us and never pimp this mantle for vain glory, acknowledgment, popularity, or praise.

It is time we walk worthy of this Mantle and set the standards again for true prophets of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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I Am Not A Sinner Saved By Grace! Are You? Wednesday, Dec 2 2009

This writing comes from my frustration with the Body of Christ accepting any wind of doctrine that sounds plausible.  We pronounce this with such vigor, such tenacity.  We wear it like a suite of armor, and some would even argue this point to no end. We negate the fact that the bible it self debunks this statement time and time again, but most of us are not bible readers; we are bible hearers.  Meaning we listen to the word preached, but don’t search, or read the word for ourselves.

How many times have you heard someone say, or said it ourselves: “I’m just a sinner saved by grace”? While I will admit that it sounds good and it will make for great preaching; it is not true.

1 Timothy 1:15 states: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…”  If Jesus came to save sinners and we are sinners saved by grace, is Jesus’ coming and death in vain? For the scripture says that he came to save sinners, we therefore say we are saved; what are we saved from if we remain sinners. It is therefore, impossible for us to be sinners and saved by grace.  For if we are sinners saved by grace then our sin remains, and Christ’s death is in vain.

Romans 6:2 states: “…How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” We were buried into Christ by baptism into his death, and have risen in the newness of life in the likeness of his resurrection.  If this be so, then we have been redeemed from the death of sin into the glorious life of Christ who knew no sin.  If Christ knew no sin, and we are born into Christ by baptism into a new life free from sin, how say we then; we are sinners saved by grace? Being born of a sinless God, if be that the Holy Ghost which is sinless dwells in us; as stated in the scripture: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9)”

Sinner saved by grace gives us the consciousness of sin therefore, because I am just a sinner saved by grace, my constant falling into sin is understandable, or even expected. It is often used to make others comfortable in living a saved life filled of compromise. Never able to move into holiness because we are sinners saved by grace.  Wherefore, we never obtain the fullness of Christ because we live a life conscious of sin.

True believers of Jesus Christ would, and should renounce sin at all cost.  They would not want to be associated with sin; even in name. For either we will be sinners, or we will be saved, but we cannot be both.

Can sweet and bitter water come out of the same faucet? Neither can anyone be a sinner and saved.

Is it true that “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Cor. 5:17)”?  If so then a sinner is who I used to be, saved is who I am now therefore, if I am saved and sinning, I have chosen to sin. Calling one’s self a sinner saved by grace is a choice to keep on sinning, because by its meaning I will never be able to grow past being a sinner saved by grace. Wherefore, sinner saved by grace takes the place of the law which reminds me of sin.  Paul said in Romans 7:7: “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”

Sinner saved by grace reminds me of sin therefore, reminding me of death, because the wages of sin is death (see Romans 6:23).  It constantly reminds me of the sin I was slave to and brings me back into bondage of sin. However, if I am simply saved by grace, then am I free from the law of sin and death to which Jesus’ blood cleansed me from. Wherefore, we are not sinners saved by grace, we are simply saved by grace, because the saved that I am has freed me from sin that I should not obey sin in the flesh.

Sinner or saved, you make the choice, but you will have to choose because no sinner will inherit the kingdom of God.

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Are You Ready? Monday, Aug 31 2009

If Jesus should appear right now, or death should close your eyes; are you ready?
Have you made your calling and election sure, or are you still living with the pigs and happy with having to repent daily?
Are you still a sinner saved by grace, or a holy people bound to a holy and sinless God?

Are you happy to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, or are you seeking a more indepth relationship with Christ where sin cannot dwell?
Perhaps the lure of the crowd still can persuade you to lie down with the devil and abuse the temple of the Holy Ghost?

Know that Jesus is coming back for a people who look like him. 1 John 3:2 states: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. The bold text implies that when Jesus shall appear we shall be like him, signafying that we shall not see him until we are like him. Therefore, just like him we must be sinless, righteous, and loving. He must be our only focus, our only dedication, and our only love. This means that we must die to our own way of doing things, we must die to the nature of our flesh, we must die to the “I” in ourselves, and live to Christ in the spirit.

Are you ready?

Are you still finding pleasure in that which God has commanded us not to do? Fornication, Adultry, hatred, murder, backbiting and the like? Is your heart telling a different story than the one you pertray? for God looks at our heart, not the outer apearance. Therefore, when you come into the presence of God and he begins to search your heart, please let the story match your actions.

ARE YOU READY?

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How Is Your Vision? Monday, Feb 23 2009

Greetings in the Precious name of Jesus,

Today we see all kinds of news about the state of this worlds economy, men hearts are failing, because many have lost possessions, and are uncertain about the future. However, this is not my economy.

In my economy, God uses gold as building blocks, diamonds and pearls are used for gates, and crystal is used for rivers. In my economy, God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and I have need of nothing. If this seems hard for you to swallow, perhaps you should look very closely at where you live.

I live in a kingdom and the King is responsible for my well being. I do not depend on the Democracy we are of for I am in the world, but not of the world. Therefore, my every need is supplied by our Lord and King Jesus the Christ. This worlds economy is subject to mans frailties and faults, but God is not subject to anyone, and therefore, has given us the ability to speak those things that be not as though they were. As though they were; is past tense, he didn’t say as though they are, but as though they were; meaning they already exist if we have the faith to believe it.

We are a people subject to the world our eyes see and therefore, are made subject to the limitations of our vision. However, Jesus died to correct our vision that the world through him might look to that which is not seen, rather than that which is. If you are born of God meaning you have been baptized by the Spirit of God (Holy Ghost); you are no longer in a democracy, but a kingdom. This means that we are no longer subject to the limitations of this worlds governments, but are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. When was the last time a son or daughter of the King went without their basic needs.

Perhaps you need to change your vision. Perhaps if we were not attempting to make ourselves comfortable in this world, our eyes would look to the world that is to come. Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth. It is God’s pleasure to meet all of your needs, and he does it based on His riches in glory, not the worlds riches which are limited.

If you are stressing over the worlds economy, your vision is impaired, if the bills are getting you down, your affections are in the wrong direction. look to the hills from which comes your help. If its not coming from the Lord where is it coming from? As God clothe the lily He can clothe you, as He feeds the birds of the air, he can feed you. Whose report are you believing? The news will always give you bad news, but Jesus has good news for you; I AM. He says I am everything you need.

Is there anything too hard for God? No good thing will he withhold from them who walk uprightly. Look out, what do you see? Do you see confusion, or do you see order? Does your wallet move with the World’s economy, or God’s? Your situation will change based on your vision. If your vision is limited so will your outcome be limited; in other words, you are limited only by your vision. Do you need healing? Then your vision can’t be limited by your sickness. Do you need a home? Don’t limit your vision by your inability to afford one. All things are possible to them who believe and walk according to the will of the Lord.

Believe and you SHALL receive. Receive it before you see it and it is yours. Be relentless in your faith, and God will be relentless in the answer. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own vision (Understanding). Let God’s economy supersede this world’s economy, and you will have lack of nothing. When God is all you need, He is all you will receive, and that is everything.

I pray these words of encouragement will fill you and empower you. Feel free to pass this along if you like and remember, we are not waiting on God, He is waiting on our vision to change.

God bless.

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The Return Of Christ Saturday, Dec 13 2008

Several weeks ago, the Lord woke me up at 1:00am and began to reveal to me that he is on his way back. It was a Fierce urgency of him moving closer and close to us. It was a warning to get our house in order. To move beyond the petty things we setup to separate us from one another.

The Lord is coming back for spirit and soul, therefore, you may believe you are a good person, but if you don’t have the spirit of God; you will not be going back with him, and if you don’t accept him as your personal savior; you will not be going back with him. If you are still engaging in sex beyond marriage; you will not be going back with him. If you are masturbating to get a release; you will not be going back with him. If you are holding anger against someone who have wrong you; you are not going back with him. For how can he forgive you, when you can’t forgive your fellow man? How can you love God whom you can’t see, and hate your brother whom you see everyday?

The Lord is preparing his people for his soon return. And that’s why you can’t engage in the sins of the flesh, and expect to go back with God. That’s why preacher, you can’t have sex with all the women in the congregation, and expect to go back with Christ. That’s why ladies, you can’t come before God with all your stuff hanging out for the world to see, and expect that he accepts it.

So for some of you who will say: “What an all loving God who will leave people behind, or cast them into hell.” Well, an all loving God sent his mercy which is renewed everyday, to give you space to repent, and you wouldn’t. An all loving God sent his son, to die for you on a cross, taking the curse that was meant for you, and laying it on himself; whom you have rejected. An all loving God sends his sons and daughters everyday to tell you of his love, his grace, and of his peace; and you think them crazy. Yet, he is still reaching out to you, he is still sending his sons and daughters out to you. Will you receive him, or will you continue to reject him?

This is real and Jesus is coming back. Will you be ready, or will you continue to be complacent? Will you continue to reject him, or will you reach out to him and let him save your soul?

The Lord is ready to receive you; please don’t put this off. If death closes your eyes tonight, Jesus has come for you. Will you be ready? Yes, someone will have to go to hell, but that someone does not have to be you. Please accept him as your personal Savior today, right now, ask him to come into your heart and change you from within. Confess your faults before him and ask for forgiveness; he will forgive you.

This is not religious rhetoric, this is about your salvation, and in salvation religion has no legs to stand on. I pray you will make Jesus your choice.

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The Goodness of God Thursday, Nov 20 2008

Whew, what a year its been and its not over yet. From homelessness to joblessness; this year started seemingly with not much to hope for.

As you may or may not know, this year started with me being homeless and jobless, but God in his infinite wisdom and in His divine purpose walked me through it; while breaking me, strengthening, and rebuilding me. We don’t know or understand the purpose of a thing until we reach the other side. Because I have waited on God, He has moved me into a job, a home, and seeing the birthing of a new book (Black Sheep Secret). He has blessed me to have my first book signing, along with allowing me to look back at where He has brought me from, with the ability to praise him for the struggle it took to get me here.

Perhaps now you are in a time of testing and tribulation, and it just does not seem like you are going to come out of it. I am living proof that what God begins in you He is able to complete it against that day. The enemy will try to persuade you that it won’t be done, can’t be done, and that God has forgotten you; still, hold on to the promises of God for they stand sure.

Right now the economy is in such disrepair that even the people of God are experiencing major set backs. However, God is not limited by mans economy. We serve a God who uses gold as building blocks, pearls as gates, and crystal for rivers; He is more than capable of meeting your needs even in this economy. Too many times we spend our time looking at what we don’t have, instead of what we do have. We begin to look outwardly, instead of inward where God resides and is waiting on our call. There are no situation you are in that God can’t solve. There are no needs God can’t meet.

Understand that God is with you even in your darkest moments. Even now I am in need, because though I have a job and a roof over my head it is a constant struggle to keep them. Yet I know that I gave myself nothing, and nothing can be taken away without the Lord willing it so. Everything I have or will have has been given by God and will be given by God.

When there was no one I could run to, the Lord stepped in. When there was no food, God spread a table before me in the presence of my enemies. When I needed a jacket for the winter, the Lord rained a jacked down for me, in front of me. Where there was no job, the Lord created one, and gave me favor in it. When I was in need of shelter, the Lord supplied.

What am I saying? Hold on, loose control and let God take control. Realize that in you there is no hope, but in Christ all hope abounds. Express your needs and expect Him to provide them. Until we get to the point that we can do nothing we tie the Lords hands; because we become busy trying to work everything out. However, when we come to the knowledge of our frailties; that is when the Lord steps in and does everything we need. When we become as little children depending on Him for everything, this is when we begin to see the powerful move of God.

I am a living witness and a testament, that God is simply waiting for us to get to the point where we throw up our hands, surrender our wills and accept that He is in control. Then and only then will we experience Him completely in all areas of our lives.

Fortunately, in order to get us to the place were we will surrender our wills, He has to put us in a place were we can do nothing else. In a place where all the doors are closed, every move we make puts us in front of another closed door. People around us start to suggest places we could go for help, and that door is closed as well. In our frustration and anguish, we call out to the Lord, and then realize this is all we had to do in the first place. In this place is where relationship is built and praise is perfected.

Be encouraged my friends. God has not forgotten you.

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Where Is Your Faith? Monday, Sep 8 2008

In a time when everything is going awry it is easy to fall into a stupor and doubt god. In the face of the economies down spiral and high gas prices, the struggle to maintain bills, and jobs being lost on a daily basis it would seem almost justified to doubt god’s ability to meet every need.

However, God’s economy is not limited to the world’s economy. His provision is not limited to your bank account, or to the Federal deficit. He still has cattle on a thousand hills, he is still the God that fed Ezekiel
in the wilderness: “And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to
feed thee there” 1 Kings 17:4. If God commanded the ravens to feed Ezekiel, do you not think that he will command provision in your season?

Isn’t it so easy to trust God in the time of plenty? When He places a hedge around you, and rebukes the devourer for your sake. However, when the time of testing comes we begin to forget the time that God hedged us in on every side. When he provided for us and kept us. Where is your faith?

Where is confidence you had in Christ when the rains flowed freely, when the showers of blessings flowed in
abundance, and you wanted for nothing? Where is the faith that says: If he brought me through that, he can take me through this? Child of God where is your faith?

I get it. You can only trust God when all is well. Your faith can only stand when everything is going your way, however, when the time comes to carry your own cross now God has not done anything for you. Now we
can’t remember how he brought us through. Is it true that we only have sight for the here and now or for the right now? Whose report do you believe? So what if they are laying off on your job, so what if they are downsizing your job? So what? Either God is going to be your provider or he’s not. Either God is going to be your source or he’s not.  You decide.

As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. We have vowed to believe beyond belief, to trust beyond trust, and to stand beyond our ability to stand. What has your faith done for you lately.

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Lay Members Monday, Apr 28 2008

The term is meant to represent persons who either don’t know as much as someone else, say like a pastor, or has no assigned function during service. In any meaning it is not a biblical term, nor is it representative of Christ. For which part of Christ’s body does not have a function? Every member of the body of Christ has a function, a calling, and a responsibility in the service and in the world. If not, it is cast aside and burned in the fire.

This term is responsible for alienating a whole group of people who feel like they have no part in the congregation, or that their only function is to be seated in order for the pastor to have someone to minister to. Therefore, we have some who come to service and do nothing, because they feel like they are not needed, or not accepted as those who work, or hold an office in the congregation. Jesus rejected this notion when he spoke against the Pharisees who thought they were more important because they had a great position in the temple. Nay, the people who are more important are the people who don’t hold any position in the congregation, because they meet newcomers first. Therefore, the way they are treated is the way they will treat guests. If you make them feel less important, in order to feel important they; will make the guest feel less important.

Rather, we must empower this group of people who are in fact the forerunners in the congregation. Their life, the way they present themselves, and the way they treat guest will determine if the guest stays, or returns. Furthermore, the purpose of the so called lay member is to learn the ways of Christ, and then perform them. They are to grow in Christ and become leaders themselves. Not stay in a particular congregation all their life and never grow beyond the four walls of one worship center.

The worship center should be a revolving door where new people come in, learn to follow, hear, and obey Christ on their own. Then when God says it’s time, they should leave, begin their own ministry (not necessarily a congregation) and make room for someone else to take their place.

Pastors, we must delight in the sending forth of new leaders into the vineyard, but instead we have become people hogs. We want to keep everyone to ourselves, and then let none go. You are, and have hindered many who God has sent forth. Many who would have been a great help to you, you have denied their gifting, and diminished their anointing in order to make yourself look good. God have mercy on your soul, for he has never given you people to rule, but to lead, to teach, and to empower. The congregation, and thereby the worship center is a learning center for all people. I challenge you to throw out the term “Lay Members”, and empower all people to serve God in the way he has chosen them to serve him. It’s not about us, but about Him.

A better term would be Students Of The Kingdom, because they are being groomed by the Lord.  They are having their senses exercised to discern between good and evil, and we never stop being students of the kingdom.

However, don’t fool yourself, not all those who don’t hold an office, or are not on the choir stand, and the usher board.  Some of them God himself have placed them there to pray you through, to carry you in the spirit, to combat demons who seek to interrupt the flow of God, and to interceed and cover new believers.  Not from the pulpit, not from the choir and not from the ministrerial Staff, but right from the pew.  They war in the spirit; they are there during service, and as soon as the benediction is done they are in the wind; because they are on a mission from God, and they can’t sit around chit-chatting about nothing.

We must change our view of those who we feel are not working in the service.  Some of them are working, only not in ways that you can measure.

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Stop Aborting the Promise Monday, Apr 28 2008

Promise, this word gives us hope and strength to endure the long road ahead. We shout over the promise, lift our voices because of the promise, and then we abort the promise. We create our own promise and call it God’s promise, and then when God starts to move to answer the promise we begin to side step the promise. You see the process to receiving the promise is not a bed of roses; it’s not the joys in life that shapes us, but the struggle that makes us. You see somethings can’t come through until we go through; there are gifts in you that God can’t get to you, because you won’t suffer, and suffering is a promise.

You want to be great in the Kingdom of Heaven? Suffer. You want to be used by God to impact this world? Endure suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. You want to be “Real”? Deny yourself, pickup and carry your own cross. Learn to rejoice in the time of trial and tribulation in spite of what you are going through. Take examples from our dear Apostles and prophets who suffered for Christ, and went away rejoicing because of their suffering. They embraced their trials, because they trusted in the promise of a greater hope. What promise have you aborted because you won’t suffer shame, you won’t suffer yourself to be defrauded, and you have to have the last word in arguments?

God is not looking for a winner, He is looking for a looser that He can turn into a winner. He is looking for a fool that He can make wise. Therefore, when you go about showing yourself as someone who can put people in their place; remember that a seed doesn’t grow until it dies. We must die to our way of doing things, to our thought, and to our will of being in control. Until we lose control we will never receive God’s true promise.

It is not the devil when people attack you for seemingly no reason. It is not the devil when your loved ones turn their backs on you. It is not the devil when someone begins to correct you forcibly, and you begin to feel small. It is not the devil, but God making you over again, renewing your spirit, and building the promise in you. You were not created just to receive a promise, but to be the promise. You are not saved just to have a ministry, but to be a ministry, and you were not saved to simply attend service, but to be a service. This is the promise God wants to get to you. Therefore, stop aborting the promise.

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Where The Body of Christ Needs to Grow Monday, Jan 14 2008

First of all let’s stop calling what we do in service church. Church is not a service, it’s a people called out for God’s purpose; people who are filled with the Spirit of God, and washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Second, lets start being honest with the people of God. Stop trying to show our self as some great prophet, pastor, leader, and put God’s Spirit back in the drivers’ seat. Stop making people more obedient to us more than they are to God; and carry our own briefcase. Put more of the responsibility to serve God where it belongs; in the hands of God’s people. Teach God’s people to go to God for themselves, rather than making them come to us for all the answers.

God sent His Spirit that we may be one with Him; sons and daughters partakers of His divine presence. He chose pastors over His flock to teach us how to come closer to Him, and then allow us to depend on Him. Put freedom back into our time of worship, and stop holding people to our scheduled service. Give people back their free will. If they don’t want to attend service they don’t have to.

Third, please abolish membership. The house of worship should be a place where we come to share with each other the wonderful workings of God. Not be obligated to attend services every time the doors open, and if we are not in attendance we are counted as backsliders, or looked upon as if we are doing something wrong. I am the church; therefore, I take my body where ever the Lord leads me.

Fourth, can we please have a central place where everyone can put their offering; instead of having an open offering where people who do not have an offering are made to feel less than those who do. Put a container at the door of the sanctuary, and let those who are giving; place their offering into it without any fanfare. Then assign the ushers to watch it while worship is going on. Furthermore, please stop with the hundred dollar lines; where we parade people around who are giving their hundred dollars. Giving should be between the person giving, and the Lord. This way our time of worship can be unhindered by these customs and traditions we hold for our own benefit.

Fifth, for goodness sake, can we please stop selling dinners after service, and allow people to come and eat freely. There are a lot of people who don’t have the money to buy food from the store, let alone buy it from us. This is not another opportunity to steal money from God’s people. Freely you have received freely give.Certainly we could involve the young people in our service, make them feel like they are apart of our worship. How will they learn worship if they never see it, if they are not seeing it at home, they should certainly see it in our times together.

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