Inside Strong

Tags

Athletes, Gold Medal, Olympics

I Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Kelly Clark a 4 time Olympic medal holder in snowboarding says, “As an athlete, you can’t let external circumstances determine your choices.” She goes on to say, “People compromise what they know to be true to get their needs met.” Finally she is quoted as saying, “There is a big difference between having potential and being prepared.”

I really enjoyed listening to this woman of God speak, for the Lord told her she is called to be an inspiration and when you listen to her speak, you realize that is exactly what she is. As a professional athlete she has learned some life lessons that are so biblically based, they change the way you think and give you hope for what you are going through. This woman, who is currently 30 years old and is preparing to go to her 5^th Olympic games in snowboarding, trains for 4 years to spend 30 seconds on a half-pipe in the Olympics.

Many frontline leaders have been training for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 or more years for what God is going to use them for in the kingdom of God on earth. As the years go by, the training intensifies and the external choices and voices increase, only someone who is inside strong can stay the course, continue to run the race, knowing that even if it is only for a short period of time, they want to be prepared for their time in advancing the kingdom of God on earth. So, how do they do and why do they do it? With younger people coming on the scene fast and furious; with others around us wondering what we are waiting for; and still with other building ministries, companies and buildings “for the kingdom”, why are the frontline leaders still in hiding?

Bill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding, CA says, “We must become comfortable living in mystery, for He is God and we are not, so much of our life is a mystery.” To many it is a mystery of what is going on, but to those who have moved from potential to preparation, they know what they have seen and they are preparing for the day when they and God come on the scene. People that are not inside strong, cannot handle being in hiding; they struggle to not be seen, so they come out for others to see. People that are inside strong have an internal compass that directs them in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). They are enjoying the journey knowing they are doing life with the King of Kings; they have seen the kingdom; they know the price of obtaining it and they have decided they are willing to pay it.

The church has lost influence because people look at the outward appearance, but one storm will reveal if you are inside strong or not. The Bride is making herself ready; the 5 virgins are gathering extra oil; the runners are running in such a way as to get the prize. It may not look like the front line leaders are advancing the kingdom, but just as the woman hid the yeast in the dough, God has hidden His front line leaders in places all over this nation and the world and when He gives the word, they will arise and go forth with their identity in the Lord; revelation in their mouth; love in their eyes; and the King of Kings as their leader and lover. When they arise, you will know that they were not being lazy, they were in preparation, because the battle is for the mind of people and these front line leaders are inside strong, so they will be unstoppable and the church will become the Bride and Jesus will get the reward of His suffering. One day many will value being inside strong.

Acts 27-28 G.P.S. (God’s Prophetic Schedule)

Tags

Prophecy

For me, the best thing about God is that He is I AM, which means He knows what was, what is and what will be (all-knowing). If that was not enough, He enjoys and has actually obligated Himself to not do anything until He reveals it to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). So, as believers, we do not need to be caught off guard about anything and actually, if we will make the time to listen through reading our bible, prayer, worship and fasting, we can hear what is coming, what is going on and how it relates to what has been. There is no other God who involves His people like Yahweh.

I believe God’s prophetic schedule is laid out in Acts 27. I have some thoughts on where I believe we are in the process, but I am not interested in detailing a timetable as much as I am wanting to lay out a blue print, so the people of God are not confused on what is going on and why it is going on. So, here is what I see in Acts 27 as it relates to us here on the earth today.

1. The apostle Paul speaks prophetically to the leaders of the ship and warns them that danger lies ahead, but his warning is ignored by the pilot, captain and centurion.
2. Acts 27:9-10 “Paul began to admonish them and said to them, Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be attended with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives. But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship, than by what was being said by Paul.”
3. A storm arose and the Apostle Paul’s prophetic word came true.
4. Acts 27:14-15 “Before very long there rushed down from the land a violent wind and when that ship was caught up in it, and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be driven along.”
5. Paul rebuked them for not following his prophetic advice.
6. Acts 27:21 “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail and incurred this damage and loss.”
7. Fresh prophetic word comes forth.
8. Acts 27:24 “Do not be afraid, God has granted you (Paul) all those who are sailing with you. Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.”

• The wheat is thrown into the sea.

1. Acts 27:38 “They began to lighten the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.”
2. The ship is destroyed, the cargo destroyed, but no lives are lost.
3. Acts 27:39-44
4. Shown extraordinary kindness by foreigners
5. Acts 28:2 “The natives showed us extraordinary kindness, they kindled a fire and received us all.”

• Shaking off powerless vipers.

1. Acts 28:3-5 “A viper came out…he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.”

• Outbreak of healing, which will include high ranking officials family members

1. Acts 28:7-10

A storm is upon us and will increase in intensity. The storm will shake everything that can be shaken, including people’s personal fears (Hebrews 12:26-28). This storm will remove all the vain images that have exalted themselves against the knowledge of God (Ephesians 10:4-6), so we can believe and receive. The storm will cause the breaking of many types of ships we have put our trust in, but though the system will be destroyed, no people will be harmed. A suddenly event will happen that brings a crash of sorts, but this will thrust us into favor with foreigners (unbelievers). Though the enemy will seek to stop us upon arrival, faith will shake off the enemy (Mark 16:18) and we will be brought before high ranking officials that have a need. I believe the result of this storm, that is increasing in intensity right now and will climax in what feels like a suddenly moment even though it has been building for years, will usher in an outbreak of healing like we have never seen before. I believe Acts 27-28 is God’s Prophetic Schedule. We were born for such a time as this.

 

Vain Imaginations

Tags

Believe, Breakthrough, Fun, Receive, Testimony

2 Corinthians 2:5 (The Voice Translation) “We are demolishing arguments and ideas, every high-and-mighty philosophy that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One.”

In the Hebrew Calendar, we are in the month of Av, this month is represented by the Tribe of Simeon, and has been said to be a month in which keys to reverse the curse are released. Now for some people this can be a bunch of rhetoric, but for me, this month has proved to be exactly what it says it is. It is a key giving, curse reversing, kind of month. What God has been showing me in just this first week of this Hebrew month of Av is blowing my natural mind, exciting my spiritual mind and healing my soul.

Since God is omniscient, meaning He is all knowing, He knew we were going to be born in this time in history, He knew we would be having the challenges personally and corporately that we are having, and He decided in His omniscience to have us be alive for such a time as this. So, God is not moved, nor surprised by anything that is going on in us, through us, or even around us, personally, nationally or internationally. Do you agree?

So, since this is all TRUTH, then where is the lie that is keeping us powerless, keeping us bound, keeping us locked up, held back, etc.? The problem is not with God, He is bigger than we can even comprehend, He is more powerful than we recognize, and He is more loving than we believe, so the issue lies with our vain imaginations. Somewhere inside of us, we have come to believe a lie, which when we come into agreement with it, becomes a stronghold and hinders what God wants to do in us and through us. Stay with me.

Yesterday, I was watching a sermon by John Paul Jackson and the Lord was speaking directly to me through this man of God. The Lord showed me that I have lived with a stronghold of believing what others have said about me. Now for me, it was a spirit of intimidation that I come into agreement with. This spirit of intimidation eroded at my confidence and kept me in the realm of knowing and even understanding, but not believing. Believing is putting our whole weight on God, it is not doubting, fearing, or even flinching when an attack comes because you know what He said and He is not a man that He should lie. So, I would second guess myself, that I heard clearly, or that I was really as up to date as I thought I was when it came to obedience.

Why is this significant, because the intimidator kept me from believing what God was saying about me, and in doing so it kept me from receiving what God wants to pour out on me. I am not a mistake, God knew the personality He gave me, the body type I would have, everything about me and He called me to be a mouthpiece for Him. I did not ask for, have an opinion about or get to give advice on any of these things. He made me like this and He likes what he made, He actually said it is very good. So, my vain imagination was that I did not like what He made and some others have not either, so I tried to dumb it down, shut it up, tone it down, and in doing so, I came into agreement with the intimidator to stay down, and this is a vain imagination that exalted itself over the knowledge of God.

I don’t know what stronghold you are stuck in and honestly you probably don’t either, for the enemy is very subtle and sneaky. But this I do know, the mystery of why things are not working is in the history and as we allow the Lord to look into our history, and show us the lie that has us locked up, we will be given keys that will reverse the curse in our own lives, so we can cast down vain imaginations in the lives of those we love. I’m free and now I see and agree with who God has made me to be. It’s about to get really fun!

Co-Worker or Control

I Corinthians 3:9 “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

Deception is hardest to discern in yourself, because Jeremiah says, the heart is deceitful and desperately corrupt, who can understand it. The heart casts a shadow on itself, so we cannot see parts of our heart without the illumination of God’s word in God’s timing. So, we can live with a deception that goes undetected for years, because of the deceitfulness of our hearts. But, Jesus, who is self-proclaimed as the light of the world, is able to shine the light of His truth into any darkness and bring light.

One of the deceptions that every human being is dealing with is that of trust. I believe the first thing the enemy steals from us is our ability to trust. We are born trusting, we trust we will be fed, we trust we will be loved, we trust we will be provided for, but somewhere in our childhood, the enemy steals our ability to trust. This is a strategic move on his part, because if we cannot trust, we will begin to control and not realize it. Control is a subtle deception because it can be cloaked in responsibility, order, organization, hard work, long hours and various forms of what we call leadership. We can find verses to justify our control and yet believe we are being led by the spirit. But if you strip it away, it is control and it is rooted in a lack of trust.

Control suffocates the spirit, wearies the soul and exhausts the body for it believes that if I don’t do it, it will not get done. The thought of being out of control for most people is scary. We have seen people that are out of control and they make a fool of themselves in some way or another. Yet, the spirit of God is calling us to let go of control. The burden of control is way too heavy for us, He is inviting us to lay down our need to control, so we can live. Many work long and hard just to come home exhausted, because they are in control. Others use their words and moods to control other people and that is exhausting as well. Control, no matter how it manifests is exhausting.

As the Lord is doing a deep work in our hearts, He is revealing foundational issues that have gone undetected for years, even decades in our lives. This foundation inspection that He is doing is critical, for to build on a faulty foundation will produce a crooked building, even if it takes years to notice there was an issue in the foundation. So, as a master builder, He is inspecting foundations, so He can build on that which will last.

We are called to be co-workers with Christ, but to do that we have to let go of control. We have to realize, not in our head, but in our central command belief system, that He is for us, that He has our best interest in mind, that He is building something we are going to enjoy. If we don’t believe that we are co-working with someone that wants us to succeed, wants us to be the best we can, we will go it alone and that is control. We are carrying burdens way too heavy for us and He is inviting us to trust Him. He has called us to be co-workers not ones who are in control. Let Go, He’s got this!

Directionally Challenged

My best friend is directionally challenged, this is not an official diagnosis, but it has happened so often, that even she herself, will tell you it’s true. She was driving home from the mall one day and she called me and said, “I am at this toll plaza, can you tell me how to get home?” I smiled and said, “How did you get there from where you were?” She said, “Ummmmm, I don’t know, you know I am not good with directions!” We laugh about these things to this day, but the truth is, many people are directionally challenged. Some go through their whole life, only to find out they ended up somewhere they never intended to be. For people that choose to reject the truth that Jesus is the only way, the only truth, the only life and the only way to the Father, (John 14:6) this can be an eternal life or death situation. But for others, who already know Jesus, who believe He is their savior, they are directionally challenged as well and do not even realize it. For them it is a life and death situation as well, not eternal, but rather abundant life or death.

We as Christians are directionally challenged because we have been taught things that are not biblical, but rather preferential. Many sermons are more opinion than they are scripture and so now we are going in the wrong direction. For people that don’t read their bible, but rather only listen to what others say about God, they are struggling with things that are easily rectified, if only they are willing to pull out their GPS (God’s word) and see where they are, where they want to go and how to get there. It takes humility to stop and read the map, ask for directions or enter in the destination in your GPS. Pride can keep us directionally challenged, but humility can put us on the road that leads to abundant life.

There are many issues we could identify that believers are directionally challenged in, but today I want to address one that is effecting everyone that comes to church weekly and that is worship. As believers we are directionally challenged in worship and that is why we are saved but not transformed. Worship is not the warm up for the sermon, it is not to soften our hearts to so we can hear the word, it is not a time to soak in the presence of God. We are directionally challenged in worship, because we see worship as a time when we want God to come down to us, but worship is when we ascend up to the Lord. Songs, speakers and teachings tell us to do whatever it takes to get God to come down, but God is calling us to come up. He (Jesus) has already come down and He is not coming down again until He puts His feet on Mount Zion at His second coming, when every eye will see and ear will hear.

Worship is a time for us to give to God; it is a time to be making an offering of songs and ourselves; it is a time for us to ascend the hill of the Lord (Psalm 24:3-5). Worship is our invitation to come up and commune with God in heavenly places. Our transformation is found in ascending the hill of the Lord, not in God descending to us, again. He has already come down and in doing so He made a way for us to come up, but if we come to church, wanting Him to come down, we are never going to be transformed.

We are directionally challenged in worship, because we are calling for God to come down and He is waiting for us to come up. Prophetess Maureena Summers said, “God is calling us to come up higher, to the third heaven, to commune with Him.” You can’t go up, unless you have something to give and realize you are headed in the wrong direction. Jesus came down, so we can come up and commune with Him. You don’t have to be directionally challenged, for you have a GPS, God’s word.

Oracles or Orators

Tags

faith, Persuasive speech, Prophetic, Prophets

I Corinthians 2:4 “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”

It can be very confusing reading what all the “prophets” are saying that the Lord is speaking. Whether well-known or unknown, everyone has something to say about the times we live in. To the everyday reader, it can be confusing for many words are contradicting one another. One example is the barrage of voices that spoke as it pertained to God’s view on the Supreme Court decision about marriage and the definition there of in the United States. Some said, God is confirming His judgment on the United States, others said, Love Wins. For people that do not know their Bible and only trust what a Pastor, leader or some blogger says, many are not sure what to believe.

One does not have to spend much time on Facebook to realize that everyone has a thought, a word, or some teaching. The increase of knowledge and the number of orators has drastically increased with the use of social media and just adds to the confusion, rather than making it clearer. If you are not reading your Bible, you will not know the truth that will set you free (John 8:32). People, sincere people, are acting more like orators than they are actually presenting oracles. From the White House to the Church House, we have people who have a lot to say, but very few who are actually making a difference. But, God is raising up men and women, sons and daughters, who are orators with an oracle.

Martin Luther King Jr. was an orator and he spoke oracles, which is why he is remembered as a national hero.

Abraham Lincoln was an orator and he spoke oracles, which is why his speeches are quoted throughout the world.

Nelson Mandela was an orator who spoke oracles and changed the nation of which God placed him in.

Orators who have oracles may not say the most, but when they speak their words carry authority. They may not be in the most popular magazines, named as People’s person of the year, or may not even have the largest church, but when they speak, atmospheres change, nations are transformed and people are liberated. Orators who speak oracles do it for the liberty of others, not for their own glory or fame. The Church is filled with thousands of orators, but very few people are actually speaking oracles, this is why there is so little transformation in people’s lives.

Orators may speak persuasively, draw a crowd, have a great personality and sound like they have the message of the hour, but only oracles can transform a life. The Bible is filled with oracles that will change your life if you are willing to submit to its words. The apostle Paul was one who spoke oracles, Peter uttered oracles, John wrote oracles and the governing rulers of their day said, these men who have turned the world upside down, have come here also. What are you acting like, an orator or one who speaks oracles? Our world needs to hear oracles, not more orators.

Discipleship Training Camp

Tags

Character, Discipleship, Growth, life, maturity, Perserverance, spiritual growth, Training

Job 5:17 “Truly, that man is happy who has training from the hand of God: so do not let your heart be shut to the teaching of the Ruler of all. Blessed is the person God corrects. So don’t hate the Mighty One’s training.”

When I was a teenager, I watched a movie called The Karate Kid. This was the original version, with Ralph Macchio, 1984. During that movie, Mr. Miagi was an older man who was a master teacher of karate. And Ralph Macchio was this young kid who thought he knew more than he really did. In the movie, Mr. Miagi had Ralph doing some chores, but Ralph had signed up to be trained in karate, so his attitude was sour at times and his understanding was limited. Little did the Karate Kid know that painting the fence and waxing the car was training for being a national and international karate champion.

God is a lot like Mr. Miagi, He doesn’t always explain to you why He is training you the way He is, but when we are faced with a fight that is going to require specific skills, we are going to see that He trained us for such a time as this.

Maybe it is just me, but I have been in training for over 15 years now. The training has brought me into a church that taught me how to die to myself and have no opinion; into a country that advanced my training to the back side of the desert, where I learned that God alone is the one I can depend on; and it has brought me through the narrow gate by which I have experienced the reality of the kingdom of God and the love of the Father. But I am still in training and sometimes, I have no idea what all the training is for. Some of the things He has had me do, like write books that no publisher wants, or love people that don’t know how to love back, has been like painting the fence or waxing the car. What is it all for?

Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

When you are in training and it takes longer than you thought, it can cause hope to be deferred, but the thing about hope is that it keeps rising up in your spirit, keeps pushing you to not give up, to never quit, for you know, that a longing fulfilled is coming. Training is never fun, sometimes it is painful and there are even times when you may ask, what is this all for anyway? But one thing I have learned through all this training, is that I have gotten stronger and stronger on the inside. Circumstances don’t move me, people can’t detour me, and the presence of God is more real to me than ever before.

I know there is a championship fight coming very soon and just like David who had to beat the lion and the bear so he had confidence to take on Goliath, we have been in God’s discipleship training camp. It has built confidence in us that God is a good Father; it has taught us self-control; it has trained our ear to hear His voice; and has taught us what is truly valuable. Wax on, wax off, because we are about to defeat the giant and liberate all the people of God. God is a master teacher and we are in discipleship training camp.