Build a Stronghold

Tags

Anointing, Fortress, Garrison, Knowledge, Stronghold

Beginning with a working definition of terms creates a platform of understanding, lest misunderstanding comes in and tries to steal the truth that is being presented. Hosea 4:6 says, “My people die for lack of knowledge…”, they don’t die for lack of anointing, they die for lack of knowledge; they don’t die for falling down, they die for lack of knowledge. What we don’t know can hurt us, has hurt us and will continue to hurt us if we remain without knowledge of the ways of God or better said the nature of God, which is why we need to build a stronghold. Most Christians have been taught a stronghold is somewhere the enemy dwells in our lives, so we need to demolish strongholds (2 Cor, 10:3-5), which is many may be wondering why I am exhorting us to build a stronghold. When I was a new Christian in the late 80’s, there was a song line that said, “Why does the devil have all the good music?” Now that we have such incredible Christian music coming from Toby Mac, Dustin Smith and Bethel Music, we may not understand this song lyric. But, when all you had was Amy Grant’s, Baby, Baby or DC Talk’s Heavenbound, you can understand what the song was asking. Context is crucial when presenting a quoteJ. So, let’s begin with a definition of terms and take back what the devil has stolen from us.

Stronghold: a place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack; a fortress.

Fortress: a military stronghold, especially a strongly fortified town fit for a large garrison.

Garrison: the troops stationed in a fortress or town to defend it.

In the books of Ezra and Nehemiah we see a process of rebuilding the walls of protection for the people of God, and re-establishing the gates within those walls. As I was talking to a friend today, I realized the Lord has built a stronghold in my mind, He has used His words (walls of salvation) and worship/prayer (gates of praise) to build a stronghold that can protect His nature from attack in my life. He has built a fortress of truth with His word in my mind, so when the enemy comes and tries to tell me God is against me, or when circumstances try to tell me God is not good, the stronghold of His nature rises up in defense of His truth.

We are all familiar with negative strongholds in our lives or the lives of others. Some have a stronghold of anger, fear, anxiety, worry, depression, addiction, suspicion, and the list goes on. When a situation arises, a word is spoken or something happens, the stronghold defends that which is housed inside of it from the attack or perceived attack they are facing. Money gets tight and people start to worry; a job is lost and people start to panic; a spouse says something you don’t like and tempers flare; strongholds create a fortress that protects a belief, whether positive or negative.

I believe it is time to build a stronghold in your life of the nature of God. It can only be built by spending time in the word of God, for His word is like our walls of salvation. We also need to be in prayer and worship, for this is how you build the gates of praise that keep out what you want out and let in what you want in. As we need to continue to allow the Lord to tear down the demonic strongholds in our lives, why don’t we also begin to allow the Lord, through His word, build new strongholds in our lives. So when the enemy comes in like a flood, like a fear, like an attitude, we have a standard to raise against it, because we have built a stronghold.

Same Same But Different

Tags

leadership, Servanthood, Value

When I lived in Malaysia, I was given the opportunity to go to a conference in Bangkok, Thailand. While there we rode a tuk tuk, which is a Thai taxi, down to the plaza where they were selling anything and everything you could think of. With the Thai Baht being 36 to 1 against the US dollar, we felt like millionaires in that place with our minimal money. While there I found a t-shirt that I liked and it said SAME SAME on the front and BUT DIFFERENT on the back. Little did I know how true these words were in so many areas of life. As I was blessed to travel to a variety of International cities, like Bali, Indonesia; Singapore; Phuket, Thailand; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I came to realize that all cities, cultures and even people are same same, but different.

One of the challenges Christians around the world face is competition in the body of the Christ. People are competing for pulpits, positions and people. We measure success by the size of our church, the title we carry, the amount of money in our bank account or the places we have been and experiences we have had. Whether in one of the large churches in Nigeria or small house churches in China, believers are battling the same voices that seek to put them in competition with one another, rather than in complementing each another. It is same same, but different in the church just like in the world. But this should not be, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are to be the light of the world, not the echo of the darkness.

Mark 10:45 says, “For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Every human being that is called by the name of Jesus Christ is the same, we have the same calling, we carry the same value, we are all called to be servants, but we are different in our function. There is only one calling for a believer and that is to be a servant, but there are a variety of functions that this calling operates out of. In the kingdom of God, there is no hierarchy, no competition, because we are all servants of the Most High God and each other. Jesus’ calling was to be a servant, but His function was to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, and die for the sins of the world. Even though His function changed throughout His life from carpenter’s assistant to Rabbi, His calling as a servant never did. That is why in John 13 it says, “Jesus knowing who He was…took a towel and began to wash His disciple’s feet”. He knew He was called to be a servant, so whatever function He did had no relevance to His value.

Every person has the same value in the eyes of God, He values us as servants, sons, daughters, and no one has more value than another to God, so where does the challenge arise? The challenge comes because we as people place differing values on differing functions. We have been taught that the function of Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher, Evangelist, President, Pope or CEO has more value than that of dishwasher, domestic engineer, street sweeper, or janitor. We decide what functions have what value and so we jockey for positon, we speak of promotions, and we have an identity crisis when our function changes, because we see value in function, but God only places value on calling, the calling to be a servant. If you think about it, every function is just a different way of being a servant. We could end the battle of pride, envy, jealousy and jockeying for position if we realized we all have the same calling, the same value, but different functions/responsibilities.

Galatians 5:25-26 says, “Now since we have chosen to walk with the Spirit, let’s keep in perfect sync with God’s Spirit. This will happen when we set aside our self-interests and work together to create true community instead of a culture consumed by provocation, pride and envy.”

We are the same same, but different.

Access Granted…Access Denied

Tags

Authority, church, Fellowship, Love wins, Pain

Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Psalm 55:12-14 “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.”

As residents of planet earth, an experience that everyone undergoes is that of pain. Physical pain comes and physical pain goes, but emotional pain tends to linger in our lives and many times goes unnoticed by the one in pain. One of the things about pain is that the level of hurt is determined, usually, by the significance of the relationship. Pain inflicted by a parent, spouse or a leader can sting more than that which is inflicted by a stranger or even a child. I was at the gym this morning and this lady who drove a very fancy pearl colored, two door Mercedes Benz walked in with me and when we got to the locker room, she stopped and was looking at an advertisement for a 12-week transformation on the wall. I said to her, you don’t need that you are already transformed physically and you look great. She obliged with a thank you, but said, my daughter just told me this morning my butt jiggles when I walk, so what are you actually doing at the gym? I smiled at her and said, at least you have a butt for people to look at, I am still trying to find mine.

Every person has experienced a painful word, cutting remark or an emotional scar that has left us walking with a limp, because of the words someone has said. The Bible reminds believers that are battle is not against flesh and blood, but against powers, principalities and rulers in heavenly realms. So, Paul is saying, it’s not the person that is your enemy, it is the spirit of anti-Christ that is your enemy. Paul then goes on to tell us in Ephesians 6 to put on the whole armor of God so we can wage war against these spirits. All great stuff, all truth, all easier said than done for most people. David says, if any enemy was coming against me, I could handle that, in another words, I expect an enemy to attack me, but when it is a friend, a father, a mother, a sister, a brother, a daughter, a son, a Pastor, a coach, a teacher, or a neighbor, I did not see that coming. We expect those close to us to take care of us, not harm us, that is why we are so caught off guard when they do something to us we never expected.

So why do we hurt those we say we love, why do we stab those in the back who we claim to be in fellowship with? I believe it is because we do not understand our authority as human beings. The word authority has many definitions in the Greek, but one of them is to grant permission. When we as human beings, knowingly or unknowingly grant the enemy permission, he uses us to hurt other people. Most people have no idea that they are an access point for the enemy in your life, which is why our battle is not against flesh and blood. However, if they cannot deny the enemy access in their life, then you have to deny them access to your life, if the enemy is using them to harm you. The only authority the enemy has on the earth is that which we give him, because the only authority on the earth is people.

The days of passive Christianity have to come to an end. Love is not a doormat, love does not tolerate injustice, love does not cow tail and run, love does not tolerate darkness; love is courageous, love is strong, love is determined, love is loyal, love is fierce, love is powerful, God is love. Until we cease to give the enemy access to our lives, by what we allow in our eye gate and ear gate, he will continue to use the access he has been granted to hurt others through us. I don’t know about you, but I put my foot down, I drew a line in the sand, I said enough is enough, I have decided it is no longer access granted, but access denied. That is love and love wins!!!!!!!!!!!

Connected Mission

Tags

marriage, men, relationships, women

When I was a kid there was a show I used to watch called the Wonder Twins. This brother sister duo had the power to transform themselves into the form of something and when what they were transformed into, combined with what the other was transformed into, it created exactly what they needed for the situation they were in. For example, one would say, form of water and the other would say form of freezer and they would become ice that would become their weapon against whatever it was they were fighting. It was a fun show to watch for us who were born in the 70’s, because we would pretend with our friends to be wonder twin powers and we got quite creative with what we activated.

I believe this old cartoon has application for today as it pertains to what God is doing with people in the kingdom of God. First of all, it was a male and female team. They were not in competition with each other, but they complemented each other. They both had something the other needed in order to face the situation they both found themselves in. In Genesis 1:26-28 when God created humanity, He created them male and female with two distinct and different makeups, but one mandate. They were called together to take dominion, not over other people or over each other, but over the earth, the animals and the land. They were to work together to multiply who they were, to rule and reign together and to subdue every enemy that sought to come against them. Eve was not Adam’s enemy, nor was Adam, Eve’s enemy. They were the wonder twins and together they would activate the kingdom of God on earth.

In Genesis 3 the enemy of this dynamic duo interrupted the original intent of this duo and deception led to a behavior that destroyed the original design for this power couple. Throughout the whole Old Testament we see that the mandate to take dominion over the animals, land and their enemies continued, but one other dominion was alive and well and that was the dominion Adam took over Eve. In Genesis 3:16 we see that part of the curse that was pronounced over Eve for her disobedience to the Word of God, was to live in subjection to her husband. But, Jesus! John 3:16 is the beginning of the breaking of the curse placed on Adam and Eve for their disobedience. Jesus, who was obedient even unto death, broke the curse that was pronounced on Adam and Eve and everyone after them by dying on the cross. Not only that, he restored to them the keys of the kingdom that they were originally given in Genesis 1.

The wonder twins were restored at the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. We are still distinctly different, and understanding those differences will help us to work together once again as the wonder twin powers, who are called to activate the kingdom of God on earth. John Gray in his book men are from mars, women are from venus began the process of outlining the differences between men and women, but God knows our design and distinctions so only He can really help us understand how we were created and how we work together in a complimentary, not competitive fashion. What most of us do not realize is that men were created for mission and women were created for connection. When we only focus on mission, we tend to go it alone. When we only focus on connection, we tend to go nowhere. But, if we could recognize that women want to be connected so they can be on mission with their man, men would be more effective in their mission, because their wife is created as their helpmate not their enemy.

The enemy has no new tactics, he does the same thing over and over again. He has deceived us to believe the enemy is our spouse, but actually our spouse is our greatest ally. The bible says, that when a man finds a wife, he finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord (Proverbs 18:22). Favor is grace, which is divine empowerment for success. The bible also says a woman of strength and integrity turns her husband into an honored king (Proverbs 12:4). When men and women stop competing and start complementing each other, we will realize we are the wonder twin powers that God created to activate things on the earth, that will usher in the kingdom of God. Together we engage in a connected mission.

From Dissapointment Fatigue to Decree

Tags

Body of Christ, Disappoinment, Fatigue, healing, Pastors

In the body of Christ there are many members, but we are one body. If one segment of the body is struggling, the whole body struggles and the Lord has revealed to me that many ministers are struggling with disappointment fatigue. One of the things God is concerned with is the whole body, not just certain groups or ministries. He is God of the whole body, not just one part of it. So, He is looking at us as a whole and wanting us to advance together. The prayer of Jesus is that we would be one as He and His Father are one (John 14). So, even though I have worked through this issue in my own life, I am now seeing it in the lives of ministers all around the church. I am finding that those who have been in the ministry for some time struggle with this the most.

Disappointment is defined as the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations; Fatigue is defined as extreme tiredness, typically resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness. When I say disappointment fatigue I am saying, members of the body of Christ who are tired of not having their hopes or expectations fulfilled. People that choose to become members of the body of Christ do so with the hope of life getting better, dreams coming true, and obtaining a sense of fulfillment. Pastors feel the pressure of the people to create this type of environment or preach a sermon that helps with this, but many of them are struggling with more disappointment fatigue than the members are. So, we have leaders and members struggling with the same problem.

But Jesus, who forever lives to make intercession for us, has a solution to this problem. His word is riddled with ways to alleviate disappointment fatigue and just like dieting if you stick to the program it will yield results, but if you want a quick fix with not change on your part, you will not see any change. The first prescription Jehovah Rapha would give for disappointment fatigue is remember the Sabbath and keep it holy (Exodus 20:8). Rest is a spiritual discipline that very few people do, because they have not seen the fruit of this labor. But the reason Israel went into Babylonian captivity for 70 years was for not keeping the Sabbath, so rest is a really big deal to God. One day a week, you are to do no work, but are to rest.

The second prescription Jesus would give to those struggling with disappointment fatigue is to praise. Isaiah 61:3 says, “To console those who mourn in Zion, give them the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Praise is a choice, when we chose to praise the Lord, we open our mouth and speak the truth of who He is. Praise alters emotions, for emotions are just energy in motion. Praise changes our attitude; opens up the heavens so we can ascend the hill of the Lord; it parts the Red Sea; it breaks the yoke of disappointment fatigue. Many ministers don’t praise, but rather they are preparing to speak while in worship. Preparation is to be done prior to worship not in it. Come to worship to praise, lift your voice to say nice things about someone else and watch your life change for the better.

Finally, Jesus would invite us to move from disappointment fatigue to decree. Many believers and ministers alike do not exercise their authority in the spirit. Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them.” Our words are more powerful than we realize. We actually create our world with our words, whatever we speak, that is what we have. It is time for the CHURCH to begin to decree the truth of the word of God, not just as a principle, but as a promise. The word of faith movement with Kenneth Copeland taught us to speak words of faith in order to receive what we ask for. It’s time to reopen this well of truth. Psalm 81:10 says, “Open your mouth with a mighty decree, I will fulfill it now, you will see! The words that you speak, so shall it be!”

We must move from disappointment fatigue to decree, if we want to see the glory of the Lord in the land of the living. Make the shift and you will see, the One who has set you free

September is a Birthing Month

Tags

birth, Prophecy, September

Psalm 65:8 “O God, to the farthest corners of the planet people will stand in awe, startled and stunned by your signs and wonders!”

Galatians 6:8-9 “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Saturday morning I was in prayer and the Lord said to me, “September is a birthing month!” I stopped immediately as the voice was gentle yet strong, it was like a road sign that makes you pull the car over to take another look. As I thought about this word the Lord gave me, I realized September is the 9^th month of the year. For a human it takes 9 months to give birth, so truly September is a birthing month for us as people. However, I believe there is more to it than this. After I realized that September is the 9^th month of the year, the Lord prompted me to look up how long an elephant is pregnant. So, I Googled this question and what popped up has given me great insight into why September is a birthing month for many in the body of Christ.

The elephant has a gestation period of 18-24 months; the white rhino has a gestation period of 15-16 months; the camel and giraffe have a gestation period of 14 months and the orca whale has a gestation period of 13-14 months. To the naked eye, this may be of little consequence, but to the prophetic ear, this is extremely significant. I believe the Lord was showing me that each month of gestation for these large animals is symbolic of each year that many in the body of Christ have been pregnant with a dream of advancing the kingdom. The longer the gestation period the larger the reality of that which is about to be birthed. For me I have been in a 15 year gestation period and so the white rhino was of significance to me. For others the above aforementioned numbers will have significance for you.

I believe as David Wilkerson prophesied; John Paul Jackson has prophesied; the news is confirming; Bob Jones saw coming; we are in the midst of a perfect storm. With three category 4 hurricanes in the Pacific right now and meteorologists are floored as this has never happened before, I believe the Trinity is about to converge on the earth with the greatest outpouring of God’s spirit we have ever experienced. September is a birthing month!

It has been a long pregnancy for us as humans, there were many opportunities to abort the mission, many days spent on bed rest, but it was all for the sake of what is coming out of the body of Christ. God is about to bring forth His bride in a way that will astonish the world. Where the church was looked upon as ineffective, irrelevant and of no consequence, the Bride of Christ will come shining forth with a power that is undeniable; a love that is expressible; a unity that is unpenetratable; and a grace that is inexplainable. It will take those off the fence into the mission; it will draw those in captivity, back into to liberty. September is a birthing month!