Posts

Space Cowboys

/in /by

There’s an old leadership quote: “You cannot lead people where you have never been.” But it’s usually accompanied by another famous quote by Aristotle: “He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.” Jesse Jackson said it another way: You can’t Teach what you don’t know, and You Can’t Lead where you won’t go!”

This year I’ve been asking the Lord to allow me to experience this one Scripture so I can teach others how to go there. It has intrigued, challenged and puzzled me for years. It’s mysterious and seems to be out of reach. Yet, there it remains lodged as a “splinter in my mind.” The first time I heard that quote from a character named Morpheus in the movie The Matrix: What you know you can’t explain, but you feel it. You’ve felt it your entire life, that there’s something wrong with the world. You don’t know what it is, but it’s there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad.

What is the Scripture? Revelation 1:10-12 I was in the Spirit [rapt in His power] on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a great voice like the calling of a war trumpet,11 Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. Write promptly what you see (your vision) in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia—to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.12 Then I turned to see [whose was] the voice that was speaking to me,… 

I was in the Spirit [rapt in His power] on the Lord’s Day,…This is my “splinter.” I have prayed to have more understanding of its meaning. I have been praying for the experience – yet it stands removed and distant from me – like a distant planet I have only seen pictures of. Yet contrary to popular, Christian theology, the Bible was written as a testimony – a witness of what others have experienced; a testimony for future space traveling, cowboys who are willing to “boldly go where no man has gone before.”

Now don’t get me wrong I have prayed “in the Spirit” and I believe I have worshipped “in the Spirit” – but I’m still curious what lies beyond the door of being in the Spirit. Jesus said in John 4 that the Father is seeking for these kind of worshippers – so it must be pretty important. Which adds another piece to the puzzle. The book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, is chocked full of mystical references to doors: entry to the Garden, sin crouching at your door, Noahs’ ark door, and Abrahams’ door. The book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, has references to doors of time and space, or multi-dimensional portals. Whatever you want to call them they usher you into a dimension that is not your own. And Jesus is asking, seeking, and knocking – for someone to overcome the Laodicean Church Age and answer the Call. Isn’t it interesting the similarities between these actions of Jesus and His teaching on prayer in Matthew 7:7-8 Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the DOOR will be opened to you…. It’s as if Jesus’ “secret coded message” to anyone who will listen is that what the Father is searching for – Jesus is praying. Are you an answer to Jesus’ prayer? Referring back to The Matrix. Is Jesus like Morpheus and we are His “Neo’s?” Can you “see” the “Voice?”

Happy Sukkot (Tabernacles)

/in /by

Throughout the years of ministry I have sought to teach followers of Jesus their Hebraic roots and their relevance for today. Often, and ignorantly, I will hear statements like, “We are not under the Jewish Law.” or “Are you trying to “Judaize” us?” or “Are you trying to make us Jewish?” Their comments expose an ignorance of God’s Word and the inadequacy of their partnership with the Spirit. (He really is our Teacher)

Born-again, followers of Jesus believe the Bible is God’s Inspired, Authoritative Word. It is the bedrock, and foundation of the things we believe and practice. With that in mind, we hold the tension between no longer being bound by the Old Testament Law – and our freedom purchased from it by Jesus’ sacrificial, Blood. Yet, though we have been set free from the keeping of the feasts, festivals, sacrificial law, and dietary restrictions – there are principles contained in its teachings that still apply. (The Ten Commandments are part of the Law. Yet, we still practice their teachings) Case in point, true, born-again, followers of Jesus believe He is returning to earth to reign a 1000 years. We believe this because Jesus taught it, and Old Testament prophets affirmed its inevitability. Regarding this time the prophet Zechariah wrote: Zechariah 14:16-19 And everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths.17 And it shall be that whoso of the families of the earth shall not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain.18 And if the family of Egypt does not go up to Jerusalem and present themselves, upon them there shall be no rain, but there shall be the plague with which the Lord will smite the nations that go not up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.19 This shall be the consequent punishment of the sin of Egypt and the consequent punishment of the sin of all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

During the Millennial (1000) Year Reign we will observe and keep the Feast of Sukkot, (Tabernacles, or Booths) and make pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts. (All followers of Jesus look forward to that wonderful day) During the month of September or October, a sukkah, or temporary shelter is erected in front of the entrance to our church. And over the years, Crystal Brown, and others have gone about the business of decorating it – for all to see. We do this as a testimony of our belief that Jesus is returning to earth – to tabernacle, or make His permanent home with us. John alludes to this in his gospel account: And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth. John 1:14 AMPC

In 2022 The Pew Research Group survey of Americans revealed a surprising 55% of adults, including three quarters of Christians, say Jesus is returning. Pew Research observed: Respondents who said they believe Jesus will return to Earth were also asked how certain they are that this will happen during their lifetime. One-in-ten Americans say they believe the second coming of Jesus will definitely or probably occur during their lifetime, 27% are not sure if Jesus will return in their lifetime, and 19% say the return of Jesus will definitely or probably not occur during their lifetime. That’s a considerable amount of people. Sadly, of those Christian respondents, how many are actually cognizant of the Old Testament prophecies that testify to the fact that we will celebrate this Biblical Feast with Jesus? Are you ready?

Confession and Declaration – Day One

/in /by

One of the keys to restoring spiritual vision is through the transformation that comes through declaration. Revelation 19:11 states that the “Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of all prophecy.” When we make declaration we are “prophesying” to ourselves. What is prophecy? Prophecy in its essence is the spoken words of God made manifest in reality. Prophetic dreams, visions, or words become manifested realities. Thus when you speak aloud the declarations of God’s Truths you are “prophesying” to yourself, to others and the atmosphere around you. You are speaking for a shift to occur. In these exercises you are seeking for a shift to occur in your spirit and a transformation in your thinking. You are moving beyond your soul man (mind, will, emotions, and personality) addressing your spirit man. As you call to it you cause your soul man to come into alignment. As David spoke to his soul in Psalm 103:1-3 Bless the Lord Oh my soul and all that is within me bless His Holy Name…” If all this is weird, and out of the norm for you, consider the prophets who were to speak to a valley of dry bones to come to life, or for trees to clap their hands.

Revelation 12:11 is our first declaration: And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

The Greek word for “testimony” is “martyria.” It essentially means to testify and is used specifically in Scripture regarding the office committed to the prophets of testifying concerning future events; or what one testifies, or gives a testimony before a judge. (You did’t realize you were called to be a prophet did you?) In this declaration they are overcoming “him” by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of their testimony. So who is “him?” Read the rest of the prophecy in Revelation 12:5-11 below:

Revelation 12: 5-11 And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to shepherd (rule) all the nations with an iron staff (scepter), and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. And the woman [herself] fled into the desert (wilderness), where she has a retreat prepared [for her] by God, in which she is to be fed and kept safe for 1,260 days (42 months; three and one-half years). Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels went forth to battle with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought. But they were defeated, and there was no room found for them in heaven any longer. And the huge dragon was cast down and out—that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him. Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come—the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out! And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

What’s real interesting about this prophecy is that it uses 6 words to describe the devil: dragon, serpent, devil, satan, seducer, and accuser. The title that we want to zero our focus on (we are trying to improve our spiritual vision) is that of satan the accuser. This word in the Greek means that you have become a judge, or plaintiff with an offense. Because of the offenses he makes accusations before the judge. You see this being played out in the book of Job in which satan comes before God’s Throne to accuse Job. For us to be restored to God’s Vision we must overcome the accusations that the devil screams at us, and God. How do you overcome the accusations? By the Blood of Jesus. What has Jesus’ blood done for us? What is it doing for us even as we speak? That is the “Word” of your testimony. Thus our first declaration is to declare our thanks for the awesome victory this has obtained for us:

Day One, Declaration 1: Father God, Lord of Heaven and Earth, I thank and praise you for the precious Blood of Jesus, My Savior, the Lamb of God! I thank you Father that today I stand before Your throne, and before angels, demons, and saints as an overcomer. Jesus has overcome satan, death, hell and sin to make me an overcomer. I stand today overcoming the accusations of your enemy, and mine, by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of my testimony. And my testimony is what Jesus’ Blood has done for me. Thank you Jesus that through Your Blood I have have been washed clean and I am being cleansed. Thank you Jesus that Your blood cleanses away every sin, failure, condemnation, accusation, transgression, iniquity, trespass, and weakness. Thank you Jesus that I have overcome the accuser of the brothers by having Your Blood wash away my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins. I rise up because He rose up. I get back up, even after falling down, because I am washed and I am being washed in the Blood of the Precious, Spotless, Lamb of God. Hallelujah and thank you Jesus! I am Your overcomer! Amen.

Remember don’t just read the confession. Declare it out loud like you mean it. Repeat it throughout the day. Use it when you are reminded of some sin, or failure from your past. Use it when you don’t “feel” like praying or doing right. Prophesy to your obstacles. Prophesy to your pains, or trials. Prophesy to your fears, or doubts. Overcome!

Every Believer A Witness Testimonials

/in /by

I trust that following last Sunday’s message everyone has had the opportunity to edit and rewrite their personal testimony. Until this week our challenges have been to see people the way God sees them, loving them from an eternal perspective. The other was to seek to obey the Lord in the area of sharing your faith. This Sunday we were challenged to not only write our testimony but to share our testimony. Remember the beginning line to open up the conversation regarding sharing your testimony? “I’m going through this class at church and they’ve asked us to share our personal story with two people who aren’t members of our church. Could I take 3 minutes of your time and read my story to you?” There aren’t too many people who will turn you down when you take this approach. So I encourage you, if you haven’t taken the time to share, to do so. Someone you love or care for may have been waiting for you to do so.